On Mars, today’s planning day went smoothly. The science block began with a series of spectroscopic ChemCam observations. The ChemCam instrument can be used in both passive and active modes, and both were utilized in today’s plan. Active observations required shooting a laser at specific rock targets such as “Coatbridge” and “Pitscurrie,” analyzing the resulting plasmas to determine the spectral characteristics of the local geology. Mastcam images provided context for these measurements.
In the second science block, while REMS monitoring was ongoing, environmental observations were conducted. This included Navcam movies to search for dust devils and clouds. These observations are essential for understanding the environmental conditions on Mars and how they may impact the mission. The team on Mars is dedicated to gathering as much data as possible to further our knowledge of the Red Planet.
