Today, on Sol 2075, the focus of our planning was on conducting a methane experiment using our SAM instrument to analyze an atmospheric sample. This experiment took up most of our planning time, but we were able to allocate an extra 45 minutes for additional science activities. This time was split between our Environmental (ENV) and Geologic (GEO) theme groups.
The ENV group will be conducting several atmospheric monitoring activities to assess dust opacity using Navcam and Mastcam. This includes taking line-of-sight images, performing a tau measurement, searching for dust devils with Navcam images, and capturing a deck monitoring image with Mastcam.
On the other hand, the GEO team planned a ChemCam LIBS observation on the target known as “Little Marais,” which was previously analyzed on Sol 2074. This additional observation will help further characterize the chemistry of this interesting feature. Additionally, ChemCam will take an RMI image of the Duluth drill hole, aiding in the planning of future drill hole targeting for the weekend.
In conclusion, while today’s planning was primarily focused on the methane experiment, we managed to incorporate additional science activities for both the ENV and GEO groups to continue our exploration and analysis of the Martian environment.