[X] My Assistant

[climber]

When we we're around Sol 90 and since, Steve and All repeat time after time, that they manage the rovers as if it was the last Sol of their life. What I read now, from Steve, from Des Marais and others is that they plan a full Exploration of VC for the months to come. We need for sure to have a plan of Exploration but, what do you think they/we can do after the upper conjunction is over and once we've got and studied the first big pancam of Victoria? I'm talking about TOTAL break-up, so you want to get as much science as possible. You've got to plan (nearly) sol after sol, setting up priorities.
It's may be too early to start this as it'll depend on what the big pancam will tell us but, in another hand, will you plan a big loop if the grand prize is on the other side with a risk of break-up and NO science or what?
This topic can be updated as we go.

[Nix]

Of course there is an optimistic planning. I guess they just need to realize the disaster-scenario in the back of their heads all the time to cope with it once it's time.

We'll all need some 'help' by the time the rovers stop working BTW

IIRC, Steve spoke about having something like a 180 sol life-expectancy for the rovers at the beginning of the mission.

I don't like the idea of going in too fast -a full circumnavigation will allow for one hell of a good model to begin exploring a place that will take a lot of work understanding.. and I personally have good confidence Oppy will go for another year or so, therefore a good preparation to the work inside Victoria is fine by me.

Nico

[MahFL]

I disagree with a full circumnavigation, get into Victoria as soon as possible and examine the cliffs, she may not of course need to go all the way down to get at the base of a cliff. After that you can do whatever you jolly well please.