Sols 4341-4342: A Bumpy Road
NASA’s Curiosity rover is currently driving across a region of Mount Sharp called Gediz Vallis. This valley was carved by an ancient stream, and the rover team is hoping to find evidence of past water activity in the area.
On Sols 4341 and 4342 (June 20 and 21, 2023), Curiosity encountered a bumpy patch of terrain. The rover’s wheels slipped and skidded, and it had to make several stops to avoid getting stuck.
Despite the bumpy road, Curiosity was able to make some progress. On Sol 4341, it drove 97 feet (29 meters) and climbed 13 feet (4 meters) in elevation. On Sol 4342, it drove 105 feet (32 meters) and climbed 10 feet (3 meters).
The rover team is now planning Curiosity’s next drive. They are hoping to find a smoother path that will allow the rover to make more progress.
Additional Details
- Curiosity is a car-sized rover that has been exploring Mars since 2012.
- Mount Sharp is a 3-mile-high (5-kilometer-high) mountain that is located in Gale Crater.
- Gediz Vallis is a valley that was carved by an ancient stream on Mount Sharp.
- Curiosity is using its Mastcam instrument to take images of the landscape.
- The rover team is using the Mastcam images to plan Curiosity’s next drive.
Significance
The rover team is hoping to find evidence of past water activity in Gediz Vallis. If they are successful, it will provide more information about the history of Mars and the potential for life on the planet.
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