Sol 711 Update on Curiosity from MSL Scientist Lauren Edgar: Slippage

Curiosity is still at the northern end of Hidden Valley. The past few drives have experienced some slip, so we are collecting data to investigate how the wheels are interacting with sand, and considering a number of drive strategies. This Navcam image from Sol 710 shows some of the progress we made into the ripple field before we decided to back up. The plan today includes a pre-drive targeted science block, MAHLI wheel imaging, a drive, post-drive imaging for targeting, and an afternoon untargeted science block. The morning science block includes ChemCam and Mastcam observations of a light-toned rock named Gold Ace, and the afternoon block includes another blind ChemCam target. The next few sols will be rapid traverse sols.

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.