Sol 1386 marks a change in our mission plan. Instead of continuing our journey south, we will be conducting maintenance on our rover’s mobility system. We will use MAHLI to check up on our wheels and ensure that everything is functioning properly. Ryan Anderson, a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL, explains the importance of this activity for the rover’s continued success on the Martian surface.
In addition to maintaining the rover, we will also be capturing small mosaics to study the rim of a nearby crater. This information will help us better understand the geological features of Mars and their potential impact on our mission.
It’s important to note that these activities are subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s status. However, we remain committed to carrying out our mission with precision and care.