Planetary Geologist Susanne Schwenzer shares her experience of coordinating mission activities on Easter Monday. With a full day ahead, she and the team are eager to explore the Martian surface. The rover recently discovered the mineral siderite in three drill holes, providing valuable insights into the planet’s carbon cycle.
On Easter Monday, Susanne took on her role as Science Operations Working Group Chair, focusing on coordinating activities and ensuring accurate power numbers. While it might seem like a less exciting task, she finds joy in planning days and watching how everything comes together. The team has much to celebrate, having published an article about alkanes just under a month ago.
Today’s workspace features interesting layers and weathering patterns, with the rover’s arm stowed due to safety concerns. However, despite this setback, the team is focused on imaging activities, including Mastcam, ChemCam, and RMI. They will document small troughs, image rocks in the middle ground, and capture the Texoli butte’s unique layers.
ChemCam is also busy with activities centered around Lake Poway, the bedrock surrounding the rover. The team plans to drive their wheels in a special area, capturing images of the rover’s MAHLI equipment. Environmental monitoring will continue, with instruments tracking wind speeds, humidity, temperature, and other factors. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MARDI) will also capture an image post-drive.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/blog/sols-4518-4519-thumbs-up-from-mars