On Sol 685, the rover on Mars has a packed schedule. The day begins with a pre-drive science block that will involve environmental monitoring. ChemCam passive spectroscopy of atmospheric composition and a Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity are among the activities planned for this block. The drive itself is expected to cover about 60 meters as the rover navigates through loose sand. Once the rover has passed through this area, it will ascend onto the Zabriskie Plateau, which is named after a sandstone formation in Shoshone, California.
Tomorrow’s activities on Sol 686 will be limited as the team waits for data to come down from the rover. However, they are looking forward to possible contact science and more driving over the weekend. It’s important to note that these dates may change due to various factors such as environmental conditions, communication relays and the rover’s status.