Jezero Crater Rim Campaign, Sols 1250- xxxx, 27 Aug 2024-, Exploring the ancient rocks of Jezero crater's rim. Options

[Phil Stooke]

Following John S.'s suggestion, I am starting a new thread for the Crater Rim campaign.

Soon I hope to have a bit more time to engage in Mars exploration again.

Phil

[neo56]

And to begin this new thread, a beautiful panorama taken by NavCam Left on sol 1250 at 14:30 LMST.

[neville thompson]

Gigapan --- PERSEVERANCE 1246
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GigaMacro - PERSEVERANCE 1246
© NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/ASU/NeV-T


Gigapan --- PERSEVERANCE 1248
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GigaMacro - PERSEVERANCE 1248
© NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/ASU/NeV-T

[Floyd]

Here is long term plan from Gupta 2020, that was circulating short time after the landing.
Now sure how current it is, but I guess it still gives us general idea what to expect.

Here is a post in the map thread on where we may be going. Click the post link to see map.
Is anyone aware of a more recent future route map?

[scalbers]

NavCam 360 degree mosaic from Sol 1253 with a large version link. Heading further SSW and up in elevation. The view is opening up further to the distant E and NE.



Here's a animation between Sols 1230 and 1253 with south in the center highlighting the general direction we're heading, up the ridgeline just right of center to the SSW.



Extended drive animation from Sol 387 to the present.

[vjkane]

Here is a post in the map thread on where we may be going. Click the post link to see map.
Is anyone aware of a more recent future route map?

Based on conference abstracts and this article in Science, there was a lively debate on how far away from the crater Perseverance should go.

The map linked, showed a more extensive drive to a location referred to as Midway that would have allowed it to sample sites similar to those found at the NE Syrtis location, which was the runner up land site in the selection process. (How cool to have the number 1 and 2 sites so close together.)

The new plan seems to have Perseverance end its journey on the crater rim. This would allow the rover to return to the lower elevation crater floor, which would be easier and therefore cheaper to land in, than the higher elevation Midway site.

I've attached a couple of abstracts that discuss both the further, Midway, opportunities and those for just the crater rim, which is the current plan.

Attached File(s)

 PERSEVERANCE_EXTENDED_MISSION_2377.pdf ( 827.44K ) Number of downloads: 120
 Perseverance_crater_rim_samples_LPSC_2024_2602.pdf ( 195.06K ) Number of downloads: 122

 

[scalbers]

Also this NASA article from August including a map showing a route up that crests a ridge on the crater rim, then proceeding as far as Witch Hazel Hill.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseve...tian-crater-rim

The next landmark is Dox Castle. I wonder if we'll be able to see back to the east as far as Kodiak Butte from there.

[neville thompson]

Gigapan --- PERSEVERANCE 1251
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GigaMacro - PERSEVERANCE 1251
© NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/ASU/NeV-T

[vjkane]

Also this NASA article from August including a map showing a route up that crests a ridge on the crater rim, then proceeding as far as Witch Hazel Hill.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseve...tian-crater-rim

The next landmark is Dox Castle. I wonder if we'll be able to see back to the east as far as Kodiak Butte from there.

This additional abstract from the LPSC conference this year argued for going further into the Nili Planum region than seemed to be the plan. However, it also identified a second crater rim area, identified as SW Rim that would be of interest. The current rim target, which includes Witch Hazel, is identified as the NW Rim.

Attached File(s)

 Perseverance_key_sampling_sites_LPSC_2024_1336.pdf ( 2.52MB ) Number of downloads: 120

 

[Floyd]

vjkane & scalpers thank you for the fascinating PDFs, links and insightful comments as to future exploration plans..

[neville thompson]

Gigapan --- PERSEVERANCE 1252
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GigaMacro - PERSEVERANCE 1252
© NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/ASU/NeV-T

[tau]

Sol 1251 SuperCam RMI mosaic with Mastcam-Z context

[tau]

. . . and corresponding Mastcam-Z images
- left eye filter 0 (RGB),
- left eye filters 1 to 6 (visible to nearest infrared light) multispectral principal components,
- right eye filters 1 to 6 (infrared light) multispectral principal components

[tau]

Sol 1254 SuperCam RMI mosaic with Mastcam-Z context

[tau]

. . . and corresponding Mastcam-Z images