The Zabriskie Plateau, a sandstone formation named after Shoshone, California, beckons the rover on Sol 685 as its post-drive imaging for targeting will take place. This is followed by a 2.5-hour drive that is expected to cover approximately 60 meters. Before the drive, the rover will undergo an environmental monitoring session involving ChemCam passive spectroscopy of atmospheric composition and Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity.
Tomorrow’s activities on Sol 686 will be restricted as the team waits for data to come down from the rover. However, they are excited about the possibility of contact science and more driving over the weekend. It is important to note that the dates of planned rover activities are subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s status.