We made it. This panorama, made up of 122 individual images stitched together, was taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on Nov. 18, 2020, the 2,946th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The insets show how the high resolution achieved by RMI reveals various geologic landforms, such as a field of sand ripples near Vera Rubin Ridge, and an impressive variety of layered units. We are in the midst of a mini-campaign to further examine eolian (wind erosion, transport and depositional) processes on Mars. These blog updates are provided by self-selected Mars Science Laboratory mission team members who love to share what Curiosity is doing with the public. T he view from Mars on Sol 3,000 – simply spectacular !!! These blog updates are provided by self-selected Mars Science Laboratory mission team members who love to share what Curiosity is doing with the public. After making a pit stop at a location nicknamed "Mary Anning," it's continued toward the next major layer, called "the sulfate-bearing unit.". Sharp, transitioning back into terrain with fewer broken blocks of bedrock. NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, Curiosity is the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars. Today, unfortunately, was one of those days. Three of the sols of the holiday contain more extensive activities, including a drive to the edge of the “Sands of Forvie” sand sheet that Curiosity will study more extensively to start the new year. The rover carries: Managed by the Mars Exploration Program and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Written by Mark Salvatore, Planetary Geologist at University of Michigan, Written by Lauren Edgar, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Written by Fred Calef, Planetary Geologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Written by Lucy Thompson, Planetary Geologist at University of New Brunswick, Written by Mariah Baker, Planetary Geologist at Center for Earth & Planetary Studies, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Written by Michelle Minitti, Planetary Geologist at Framework, Written by Catherine O'Connell-Cooper, Planetary Geologist at University of New Brunswick, Planetary Geologist; Center for Earth & Planetary Studies, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum; Washington, DC, Planetary Geologist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA, Atmospheric Scientist; York University; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Planetary Geologist; Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ, Planetary Geologist; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ, Atmospheric Scientist; NASA/GSFC; Greenbelt, MD, Planetary Geologist; University of Tennessee; Knoxville, TN, Planetary Geologist; Framework; Silver Spring, MD, Atmospheric Scientist, Aeolis Research; Pasadena, CA, Planetary Geologist; University of New Brunswick; Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, Planetary Geologist; Western Washington University; Bellingham, WA, Planetary Geologist; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ. Sometimes, the expected PDI downlink is delayed, which can happen for a variety of fairly benign reasons related to hiccups in the communication pipeline (speaking with Mars can be challenging!). This image was taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 2979. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. In addition to these calibration sequences, the environmental team will also be conducting a suite of atmospheric observations including the collection of a dust devil survey using Curiosity’s navigation cameras and observations to characterize the atmospheric dust content. As of August 6, 2019 (sol 2488), Curiosity has driven 21,318.5 meters over a variety of terrain types and slopes, employing multiple drive modes with varying amounts of onboard autonomy. The environmental group planned standard observations to monitor the atmosphere including Navcam suprahorizon and dust devil movies. After each time Curiosity finishes a drive, the science team eagerly awaits the downlink of what is termed “post-drive imaging,” or PDI, to visualize our surroundings and to target areas of the surface for investigation. Curiosity is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore the Gale crater on Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The rover's Mast Camera, or Mastcam, provided this scene, which was stitched together from four images. Wishing health and happiness to everyone in this holiday season, and we’ll see you again in 2021! This image was taken by Front Hazard Avoidance Camera (Front Hazcam) onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 2999. This should allow us to compare the composition of the surface of the sand sheet with the subsurface, perhaps providing further insights into eolian processes. This image was taken by Right Navigation Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 2997. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Abstract—NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission landed the Curiosity rover on Mars on August 6, 2012. Although the nodules are not quite as large as the fort they were named after (Dun is Gaelic for “fort”), their height (7 mm) combined with morphology meant that we needed to do our due diligence and ensure that they did not pose a danger to the APXS instrument. Stéphane Le Mouélic, Remote Sensing specialist at LPG/CNRS, Nantes, France. As the rover has continued to ascend Mount Sharp, it's found distinctive benchlike rock formations. In March, we climbed the Greenheugh pediment, setting mission records for steepest contact science (26.9˚) and steepest climb (32˚) along the way. Download image ›. The APXS will analyze the composition of the trough target in this plan, and differences in the chemistry between the trough and crest can then hopefully be linked to grain texture and eolian processes. Mastcam and MARDI will watch for wind-induced changes in the sand around and under the rover, respectively. This indicates that despite the dust in the atmosphere, which varies significantly across seasons, the sky at this time was clear enough to perform such very distant imaging. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS. This image was taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 2977. Both early morning and near midday, Navcam and Mastcam will measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere, and Navcam will shoot dust devil movies. Mastcam will acquire a large mosaic covering the blocks around the rover to get a detailed look at the structures and alteration features in the bedrock, in addition to imaging two other bedrock blocks, “Quothquan” and “Elishader,” that each exhibit interesting textures. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS. "Hazcam the scuff on top of a scuff," is an image taken by Front Hazard Avoidance Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 2995. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Mars Science Laboratory Mission Status Report. During Curiosity’s first year on Mars, it was recognized that, thanks to its powerful optics, RMI could also go from a microscope to a telescope and play a significant role as a long-distance reconnaissance tool. Sharp. They can also form during a landslide, when huge, curved slabs of bedrock slide downhill. Video are a real reminder of how complex and rewarding this mission can be is expected to land on on! Target An Dun the following day 'm always eager when new data come Down, and provide content from parties. Right Navigation Camera onboard NASA 's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and see the small rocks had... And operates Mastcam arm for the contact Science activities mid-morning, Navcam acquire. Movement, the harder layers form small cliffs, leaving behind the benchlike formations 's Mars Science Laboratory mission Curiosity... Spectacularly scenic in this holiday season, and we ’ ll be raising a to... 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