On sol 4334 Curiosity drove about 48m, to the northwest, continuing close to the channel.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.
[/quote]

Curiosity drove again to the north on the past weekend, roughly following the channel bank. It was a long drive of about 50m on sol 4332.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Updating the KML file to sol 4329.

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_4329_2024OCT13.kmz ( 1.58MB ) Number of downloads: 21


A change log can be found in post #494

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Curiosity drove again last Wednesday - sol 4329. Added some targets from sol 4328.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Hera's first days in space have gone well. The trajectory is fine, the solar panels deployed correctly and star trackers have been tested.
See ESA's report here.

On November 1st Hera will perform its first DSM (Deep Space Manoeuvre), Didymos arrival is planned for October 2026.
Fernando

Curiosity continues to move northerly, investigating the channel's west bank and drove about 25m on sol 4328.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

The Hera mission launch was successful. The venerable booster 1061 made its 23rd, and last, flight, the mission requiring Falcon 9's full capacity.
The solar panels unfolded one hour or so after separation.

View or review the launch at this ESA announcement or go directly to youtube
Fernando

Curiosity drove again on sol 4326. Here is a view of the channel campaign.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

I come here daily, some days twice or more. I've been posting for 10+ years, it took a few years after joining to gather the courage to do it. From the warm welcome I've received with my first post to the subsequent encouragement throughout all these years, the large amount of information I've obtained in this forum, the sheer pleasure of the images our wizards continuously provide, this Forum has been very important to me and an excellent way to live a part of my life.
Thank you Doug and everyone else here, UMSF is unforgettable. I'll keep posting as usual, and search for a way to continue to contribute. I'll let you know about it on the right thread.
All the best
Fernando

Update of the KML file to sol 4316.

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_4323_2024OCT05.kmz ( 1.53MB ) Number of downloads: 26


A change log can be found in post #494

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

On the road again, on sol 4323, but the expected 25m drive was cut short.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Curiosity's 2024 third quarter was, as its second, spent investigating the Gedis Vallis channel.

Here is a visualization of Curiosity's travels on the third quarter of 2024. In all images North is at the top.

The path for sols 4231 to 4320 (July 1st to September 30th, 2024):



The above in a wider context (since sol 3164, July 1st, 2021):




For the route summaries of previous quarters and their contexts please see:

• 2Q 2024 Post #2172
• 1Q 2024 Post #2121
• 4Q 2023 Post #2074
• 3Q 2023 Post #2043
• 2Q 2023 Post #1973
• 1Q 2023 Post #1924
• 4Q 2022 Post #1873
• 3Q 2022 Post #1828
• 2Q 2022 Post #1779
• 1Q 2022 Post #1725
• 4Q 2021 Post #1634
• 3Q 2021 Post #1608 (includes mission-wide and Gale-crater-wide contexts).

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

There are a few new target names and a new drive on sol 4321. Curiosity is avoiding the sand...



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Curiosity is about to climb out of the channel and rejoin the MSAR 10.
Another long drive on sol 4319 left it very close to the planned up-ramp.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Update of the KML file to sol 4316. Changed the viewpoint.

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_4316_2024SEP29.kmz ( 1.52MB ) Number of downloads: 40


A change log can be found in post #494

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Aaah... Almost nailed it. Curiosity had to reajust it's position on sol 4316. Now it can look for those sulfur stones.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

The channel's charms are hard to resist: Curiosity drove back 50m to the white stones area. Good hunt!



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Curiosity used the drive on sol 4312 to check-out the condition of the wheels. And someone, apparently by mistake, added a Perseverence blog entry (an interesting find) to Curiosity's blog! (*)




(*) 2024SEP25: The post was removed.

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Update of the KML file to sol 4309.

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_4309_2024SEP21.kmz ( 1.52MB ) Number of downloads: 27

A change log can be found in post #494

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

I second that. Throughout the years we've been absolutely spoiled with beautiful images by many talented members.Those are one strong reason I'm still here.

Fernando

A short move back on sol 4309, to get to the intended workspace.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Another perspective of Curiosity's trek across the Gediz Vallis Channel, as it nears exiting it.



Fernando
PS - perhaps a new thread will be needed in the near future?

New drive on sol 4307. Nearing the sandy upramp out of the channel.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Here is the weekend drive. Update to sol 4306.



Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.

Update of the KML file to sol 4302.

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_4302_2024SEP14.kmz ( 1.52MB ) Number of downloads: 46


A change log can be found in post #494

Fernando
_____________________________________________________________________
The Martian Way files can also be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJH...BbQ?usp=sharing
Included are "The Martian Way" KMZ file, User's Guide, and MSL Orbital map of Gale crater.