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Earth planning date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024

The planning process was shaped by whether we should proceed with drilling at “Mammoth Lakes,” the selected drill target. This relies on whether the site meets our scientific goals and safety requirements. APXS was used to analyze the site’s elemental composition, and a “preload test” checked the rock’s stability for drilling. Although APXS results were favorable for science objectives, the preload test failed, leading to the cancellation of drilling plans.

As drill activities occupied the entire first sol, an alternative plan was not feasible in time, and Curiosity had unexpected downtime, with only REMS and RAD observations conducted.

The second sol had a typical schedule, minus some drill-related tasks, making it quieter than usual. We conducted Mastcam and Navcam atmospheric measurements and photometry, used the Mars Relay Network for communication, and conducted ChemCam analysis on “Golden Trout Lake,” among other observations.

Environment monitoring with a dust devil survey, a suprahorizon movie, a north crater rim mosaic, and REMS, DAN, and RAD observations concluded the day’s tasks.

Despite the setback, the team is exploring other potential drill sites in the area. Drilling on Mars is a complex challenge given the distance and remote operations.

Written by Conor Hayes, Graduate Student at York University