[X] My Assistant

[Phil Stooke]

A drive on sol 1148 - looks like we are near the southern bend of Cut Bank Valley. This perspective view of a hazcam image is the only visual cue I have so far of its location. It looks along the west-running branch of the valley and its southern side.

Phil

[PaulH51]

Before its drive on 1167, curiosity used its RMI to target Bagnald Dune #1, using the pointing data I think I may have located the target area on a 1162 NavCam frame.


Raw NavCam LINK
Raw RMI LINK

Another planned drive completed on Sol 1168 closer to the dunes, images still coming in....

Mission Update from Lauren Edgar - Sols 1167-1168: Onward to the Bagnold Dunes LINK

The Bagnold Dunes are tantalizingly close, and this week is mostly focused on driving to the dunes. On Sol 1167 Curiosity drove 39 m, and the dunes are starting to look pretty big, as seen in the above Navcam image. For more on our plans when we get to the dunes, check out this recent press release.
The plan today looks very similar to yesterday, with a pre-drive science block, a drive, and post-drive imaging. Science activities include Mastcam and ChemCam observations of the local bedrock at a target named “Etosha,” as well as Mastcam deck monitoring to look for fine sand that might accumulate as we approach the active dunes. After the drive we’ll acquire standard imaging to prepare for future targeting and terrain assessment. We’re also planning a SAM atmospheric observation to look for methane, exactly one Mars year after the previous high detections....