Curiosity Rover Wraps Up Investigation of Martian Boxwork Terrain
Curiosity Rover has completed an intensive week of science observations and engineering tasks as it concludes its months-long exploration of the Martian boxwork terrain. The team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been hard at work planning and executing a series of activities to gather valuable data from the southern reaches of Mount Sharp on Mars.
Throughout the week, Curiosity used its Mastcam and ChemCam cameras to image various targets, including ridges and buttes such as “Salar de Maricunga,” “El Misti,” “Saipina,” and the “Paniri” butte. The rover also examined bedrock fractures and composition using instruments like the laser spectrometer on ChemCam, the Dust Removal Tool (DRT), the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS).
On sol 4839, Curiosity continued its investigation by conducting laser spectroscopy and imaging on targets like the “Toro Wharku” and “Paniri” butte. The rover also captured cloud and dust-devil movies using its Navcam.
Moving forward to sol 4840, Curiosity selected a rock formation called “Llisa” for further study and obtained microscopic images of intriguing sedimentary layers on targets like “Chusumayo” and “Sierra Gorda.” The rover also conducted atmospheric studies and captured images of the Martian sky.
On sol 4841, Curiosity drove further south and continued its scientific investigations with studies of rock formations like “San Julien” and “Santa Rita.” The rover also performed a series of activities to analyze the Martian atmosphere.
Looking ahead to sols 4842 through 4844, Curiosity’s plan includes additional studies of dark ridge targets, mosaics documenting the contact between different geological structures, and investigations into regolith movement. The rover will also unstow its arm to conduct brushing, imaging, and measurement tasks on various targets.
As Curiosity prepares to move on from the boxwork terrain, the team is excited to uncover new discoveries in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on Curiosity’s journey on Mars.
For more Information, Refer to this article.
