On Mars, Sol 685 has brought about a new plan for the rover. The day will begin with a pre-drive science block followed by 2.5 hours of driving, and post-drive imaging for targeting purposes. During the pre-drive science block, the rover will conduct environmental monitoring tasks such as ChemCam passive spectroscopy to analyze atmospheric composition and Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity.
Due to the loose sand in the area, it is predicted that the drive will cover approximately 60 meters. Following this, the rover will navigate through some ripples before ascending Zabriskie Plateau, which is named after a sandstone formation near Shoshone, California. Tomorrow is expected to be a restricted sol as the team waits for data to be transmitted back to Earth. However, they are anticipating engaging in possible contact science activities and more driving over the weekend.
It’s worth noting that the dates of planned rover activities outlined in these reports may change due to various factors such as the Martian environment, communication relays, and the status of the rover itself.