Rover Update: Sol 1386 Brings Wheel Check-Up for Mars Exploration

For Sol 1385, our rover covered a distance of 66 meters as we continued our journey south between the “Baynes Mountains” and “Helgas Dune”. The plan for Sol 1386 is to conduct APXS and MAHLI observations of the target “Trekkopje”, followed by a brief science block. Mastcam will begin the block by taking atmospheric measurements, while ChemCam will analyze Trekkopje. Mastcam will also document these observations as well as the AEGIS observation from Sol 1385. Additionally, we will capture a couple of small mosaics to study the rim of a nearby crater.

However, instead of driving, the plan for Sol 1386 involves using MAHLI to conduct a check-up on our wheels. This is crucial to ensure that the rover’s mobility system is functioning properly. Ryan Anderson, a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL, provides insights into the planned activities for the rover. It’s important to note that the dates of these planned activities may be subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s status.