MARS: CURIOSITY u krateru GALE Vol II.

Sols 1441-1442: Cruising through the Murray Buttes

Wed, 24 Aug 2016

Curiosity is making good progress through the Murray Buttes, and on Sol 1439 we drove another 34 m to the south.  Today’s two-sol plan fits our familiar routine: a pre-drive science block, drive, post-drive imaging for targeting, and an untargeted science block on the second sol.  The plan starts with Mastcam and ChemCam observations of the targets “Viana,” “Ukuma,” and “Waku Kungo” to assess the composition and sedimentary structures in the local bedrock.  We’ll also acquire a large Mastcam mosaic to document some of the buttes.  After the drive we’ll take some post-drive imaging for targeting and context, as well as an autonomously selected ChemCam target using AEGIS.  The second sol is mostly devoted to atmospheric monitoring, including a ChemCam passive sky activity, and Navcam observations to search for dust devils and clouds.  If we keep up this driving pace, we could be looking for our next drill target as early as next Wednesday!
By Lauren Edgar
--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Sols 1443-1445: A SAM-filled weekend plan

26 August 2016


The drive planned on Wednesday did not execute due to an unanticipated flight software interaction.  However, the problem is now understood and we will attempt the drive again next week.

Today’s three-sol weekend plan is focused on SAM activities and contact science.  On the first sol we’ll do a SAM pre-conditioning activity to prepare the sample cup prior to delivery of the Marimba2 drill sample.  We’ll also acquire a ChemCam observation of the target “Viana 2” to assess the chemistry of the local bedrock and nodules.  Then we’ll take a Mastcam mosaic to document several light-toned ridges and possible channel features, followed by several environmental monitoring activities.  In the afternoon we’ll drop off the Marimba2 sample to SAM, and the evolved gas analysis will occur overnight.  The second sol contains ChemCam observations of “Ganda” and “Catabola,” followed by DRT and contact science on “Ganda,” and MAHLI and another short APXS integration on the target “Andulo.”  This is a very power heavy and complex plan, so the third sol will be relatively light, with a ChemCam passive and Mastcam multispectral observation on “Ganda,” and additional ChemCam LIBS target at “Calonda,” and some Mastcam deck monitoring.  Sounds like a busy weekend!

By Lauren Edgar

--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Dating of Gale Crater

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=39674

Inspekcija oštećenja na kotačima...
Na skici sam pokazao jedan od ključnih razloga za preranu pojavu oštećenja na kotačima.
Ima ih više, a ovaj je, kao što rekoh jedan od ključnih.
Po mojim izračunima bi pleh kotača morao biti debljine 02, umjesto 0,1 mm. 
Noor i Dijagram će razumjeti o čemu pričam...

Ovaj foto je snimilo vozilo OPPORTUNITY. Kemijski gledano je to hematit, koji nastaje isključivo u vodi.
Postoji teorija da bi ovo mogao biti produkt mikroorganizama...
Nešto slično primjećujemo i u najnovijim fotografijama vozila CURIOSITY.

Na ovo sam mislio gore...lijevo primjećujemo  rupice od laserskog ispitivanja (spektroskopija).

Na ovom mjestu ću povremeno objavljivati i najzanimljivije snimke letjelice Juno, koja je upravo završila
svoj prvi "flyby" (od njih 35!)oko Jupitera. Oko Jupitera je prošla na visini 4,200 km od gornjih oblaka,
 brzinom 208,000 km/h iliti cca 58 km/sekundi. Fotografije visoke rezolucije stižu tijekom sljedećih par tjedana. 

Evo još nešto, što kinda ne spada u ovu temu, ali ipak...

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2016/0824-proxima-centauri-b-have-we.html

Planet Proxima Centaur je od nas udaljena 25,4 svjetlosne godine.

NASA (JPL) kaže odprilike da bi u skorije vrijeme mogla poslati sondu, brzinom dosta blizu svjetlosne.
Pa ako je i polovične. To znači da bi za cca 60 godina mogli saznati što tamo postoji...
Počinjem vjerovati onima koji pričaju da su vidili nekakva vozila, čudnog oblika i brzine kretanja.
Sad se mi to čini sasvim moguće, posebno imajući u vidu mogući veći stupanja razvoja onih koji nas "posjećuju".
Još jednom hvala nekome, tko je takvo  iskustvo podijelio sa mnom.

Upravo se vrši spektroskopija....

ChemCam...šta reći, fascinantno već na prvi pogled. 

Isto kao gore, ali prevedeno(balansirano) na naše plavo nebo.
Toliko je točno, koliko sam pogodio boju boju neba.
Sve je to jako jako približno.

Sols 1446-1447: Back on the road

29 August 2016
The MSL activities planned for last weekend went well, and the rover's batteries have enough energy to proceed with another drive on Sol 1446.  We started the day looking at the beautiful new Mastcam images of the nearby buttes, then got down to planning the details of the 2-sol plan.  On Sol 1446, Mastcam will extend coverage of previously-planned mosaics, and ChemCam will use its laser to measure the chemistry of "Muchinda" on a large outcrop block.  After the drive, ChemCam will autonomously make another observation using the AEGIS software.  Overnight, CheMin will prepare and analyze an empty sample cell in anticipation of a new drill sample.  Early on Sol 1447, Mastcam and Navcam will measure the dust in the atmosphere and search for clouds.  Most of these observations will be repeated just before local noon and late in the afternoon to look for short-term changes. 

by Ken Herkenhoff