[meteorite-list] Curiosity Update: Scuff Stuff

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 17:49:38 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201210060049.q960nclr008342_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1369

Scuff Stuff
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
October 5, 2012

On Sol 58 (Oct. 4, 2012) Curiosity maneuvered its arm to use instruments for close-up
examination of sandy material at the "Rocknest" site. The inspections with the Mars
Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) focused on
targets in and near a wheel scuff that Curiosity made on the preceding sol to
freshly expose material in a wind-sculpted ripple. These activities were
preparation for planned first use of the rover's scoop.

A Sol 58 raw image at http://1.usa.gov/UHIyL6 from Curiosity's front Hazard Avoidance
Camera after the Sol 56 drive, shows the arm extended toward the scuff in the ripple.

Sol 58, in Mars local mean solar time at Gale Crater, ended at 9:45 p.m. Oct. 4, PDT
(12:45 a.m. Oct. 5, EDT).
Received on Fri 05 Oct 2012 08:49:38 PM PDT