Curiosity’s Two-Sol Plan Combines Remote Sensing, Contact Science, and Instrument Operations to Explore Mars

The two-sol plan for the Curiosity rover on Mars involves a mix of targeted remote sensing and contact science activities at a location known as “Koes.” Due to power and time constraints, contact science could not be included in the weekend plan, making this an ideal opportunity to incorporate it into the current plan.

The plan will begin with ChemCam and Mastcam observations of “Koes” and “Onawa” to gather data and characterize the Murray formation in the area. Afterward, the Dust Removal Tool (DRT) will be used to brush off a fresh surface at “Koes” before capturing images with the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). In addition to imaging the rocks, MAHLI will also capture images of the rover wheels for ongoing monitoring purposes. The Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) will be placed on “Koes” for an overnight integration to analyze the composition of the target.

Following these initial observations and instrument operations, a Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) preconditioning activity will be conducted to heat up a sample cup in preparation for solid sample analysis. On Sol 1381, another ChemCam observation will be taken of the Murray formation at “Khoabendus,” and Mastcam will be used to characterize veins at the target “Helgas.” The rover’s Navigation Camera (Navcam) will also be used to monitor the atmosphere and search for dust devils in the area.

Overall, this two-sol plan for Curiosity includes a combination of remote sensing observations, contact science activities, and instrument operations aimed at furthering the mission’s goals of understanding the geology and environment of the Martian surface.