Update to Sol 1049. The comings and goings in Marias Pass are now kept in separate paths with individualized colors.
Fernando

 MSL_Curiosity_Route_Map_Sol_1049_2015JUL21.kmz ( 250.6K ) Number of downloads: 451

I thought I had correctly identified the new drilling target outcrop based on Jan's Sol 991 panorama of Navcam L images and the bright outcrop image mentioned in "Mission Updates" for Sols 1048-1050:


I was expecting Curiosity to retrace its route to halfway between Sols 990 and Sol 991 locations and then turn a bit to the east and climb in a more southerly direction, so I am a bit surprised by the chosen route. But, of course, where I can only guess, the rover drivers KNOW.
Fernando

This NASA news release has a Mission Status Report providing an account of the problem and its remediation.
Fernando

Just curious: What will the solar wind do to those 500 tonnes of N2 escaping Pluto every hour? Might it be that some fraction of those materials are intercepted by Charon, rain down and interact on its surface?
Fernando

NOVA documentaries really are worthwhile seeing. Unfortunately, when I try to access it I get this message:


Does anyone know how to see them from Europe? Thanks
Fernando

A new 30 seconds update from DLR. Another attempt to contact Philae and send commands to turn on CONSERT will be made on Sunday . Tweeter Link

Fernando

EDIT: Apologies for the confusion, an unfortunate combination of wishing for good news and being "Pluto stoned". This clip is from July 3 as dshaffer correctly points out (thank you).

Conference is over and its 3:12 AM here. What a day! I still remember the excitement of July 20, 1969. Time to rest. Thanks for the company.
Fernando

Signal received. Carried LOCK. Everything looks good and the spacecraft is healthy, reports Dr. Alice Bowman.

HUGE congratulations to the team and thanks for having has along.
Fernando

July 15, 00:46 UTC, the Phone Home signal should be crossing the orbit of MARS, just 4 minutes before the signal arrives at the DSN Madrid antenna.

NASA TV transmission is ongoing.
Fernando

July 15 00:16 UTC, the Phone Home signal should have crossed the orbit of Jupiter.

NASA TV transmission should be starting soon.

Fernando

And by now, 23:38 UTC, the Phone Home signal should have crossed the orbit of Saturn
Less than 75 light-minutes to reception

Fernando

I just reviewed Dr. Alice Bowman's reply to what the "Phone Home" signal is question. You can find it at 30min 55sec of the record of today's press conference, see Post #210 by Req.

If I interpret it correctly, a lot of critical engineering and status data will be sent. Receiving it obviously means the spacecraft has survived its passage through the Pluto system. I have no idea if the data includes the amount of occupied memory, but that data point does make sense to me.
Fernando

EDIT: The signal has crossed Neptune's orbit and should be crossing Uranus' orbit in about 32 minutes.

"Eyes on Pluto" show NH targeting Earth ... It is now 10 minutes to the scheduled PHONE HOME signal .

Fernando

Here! Here! Thanks Phil
Fernando

Update to Sol 1042.
Fernando

 MSL_Curiosity_Route_Map_Sol_1042_2015JUL14.kmz ( 250.43K ) Number of downloads: 301

Learn something new everyday! I had always thought it was named after the ferryman from Hades, which would be appropriate since Hades is the ancient name of the underworld god: Pluto. Well disguised indeed!
Fenando

Thank YOU Phil for all you do here and elsewhere including the locations, targets and their names, which then "mysteriously" show up in the KMZ.

So it seems the backwards move was 33 cm rather than 20. Oh well, I'll get it right on the next update.

Fernando

Route update to Sol 1039. A very short backwards move (estimate around 20 cm based on front hazard camera images) from Sol 1037.
Fernando

 MSL_Curiosity_Route_Map_Sol_1039_2015JUL10.kmz ( 250.3K ) Number of downloads: 269

Thank you all for the posts on Ceres mythology and name pronounciation, I had no idea about the "helper gods" so I went searching. As usual, the Wikipedia proved to be a good starting point.

My native language is Portuguese, a Latin-based language. However I never learned Latin, so I had some fun digging around for the most likely pronunciation: it turns out there are four competing ones. Here is a link to WHEELOCK'S LATIN, a very reputed source.

So the classic latin pronunciation (I hope I got it right ) seems to be very close to my "gut feeling":  Occator.mp3 ( 46.17K ) Number of downloads: 1518


Fernando

Route update to Sol 1036.
Fernando

 MSL_Curiosity_Route_Map_Sol_1036_2015JUL07.kmz ( 250.26K ) Number of downloads: 525

Nice pan! And here is a Google Mars view of the same Logan's Run area to help locate the tracks made on sols 964 through 991, which are still visible on your pan. I'll be posting a route update later today.

Fernando

Congratulations Phil. Well deserved recognition.
Fernando

Salut Giles!



Il est vraiment intéressant ton libre! "The Martian Panoramas" est, peut-être, une traduction plus précise du titre.

[Hello Giles!
Your book is truly interesting. "The Martian Panoramas" is, possibly, a more accurate translation of the title.]

Fernando

Update to Sol 997.
Fernando

 MSL_Curiosity_Route_Map_Sol_0997_2015JUN08.kmz ( 249.97K ) Number of downloads: 637

I think the final route on GE will not deviate much from the following. Because it looks like Curiosity will be here for some sols and I'll be unable to update the route map for the next week or so, I'm posting here this view of the unconfirmed the route, to add to the general picture.

Fernando