Sol 20 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: ChemCam Rasters
26 August 2012Today we received data from the first ChemCam “rasters,” in this case 5 laser shots in a row on 3 different targets. We were glad to see this capability demonstrated on Mars, because we would like to use it a lot in the future. The laser is focused on a spot less than 1 mm across,… Read More
Sol 19 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Shooting Stereo
25 August 2012We've started getting Mastcam characterization data on the ground, and the key focus test data have allowed us to modify the command sequences sent to acquire more characterization data with the focus quality needed to make use of them. It's nice to see my recent efforts paying off, but of course… Read More
Sol 18 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Speedy Data
24 August 2012We have received all of the full-size MARDI images of MSL's descent, and they have been combined into a video. Watching this, with the audio from the mission support area dubbed in, brought a tear to my eye. The significance of landing successfully on Mars using an entirely new, incredibly… Read More
Sol 17 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Mastcam Mischief
23 August 2012More cheers today when the rover planners (drivers) reported that the first MSL drive went perfectly. It wouldn't be much of a rover mission if we couldn't drive, so this was very good news. I feel extremely fortunate to be involved in yet another successful Mars rover mission--we are now 4 for 4… Read More
Sol 16 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Wiggling Wheels
22 August 2012First the bad news: The REMS (meteorology experiment) team confirmed that two out of 3 wind sensors on one of the two booms on the remote sensing mast are permanently damaged and cannot be used. They are getting good wind data from the other boom and are working on getting as much information as… Read More
Sol 15 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: New Insight
21 August 2012The MSL mission continues to go very well, with the first movement of the rover wheels planned for tomorrow. The tactical operations team continues to take on more challenges, planning more and more scientific observations each day. I spent most of the day on strategic planning of the… Read More
Sol 14 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: ChemCam Team Rocks!
20 August 2012Having completed the SOWG Chair shifts assigned to me over the past 4 days, I didn't have to get up before dawn this morning. After trying (unsuccessfully) to sleep in, I went straight to the ChemCam room at JPL to see how the first Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) data… Read More
Sol 13 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: All-Star Crew
19 August 2012I served as SOWG Chair again today, planning Sol 13 activities for MSL. The tactical planning team is getting better at getting everything done in time to send commands to the rover, so we were able to fit more new scientific observations into the plan today. Fortunately, the science team was led… Read More
Sol 12 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Mars Time
18 August 2012Those of us supporting MSL tactical mission operations are living on "Mars time." A day on Mars, or "sol" is about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth, but our workday doesn't shift exactly 40 minutes later each day because the tactical schedule is tied to the receipt of data from the orbiters… Read More
Sol 11 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: ChemCam Testing
16 August 2012I served as SOWG chair again today, planning Sol 11 of the MSL mission. All is going well, but slowly--we continue to confirm that instruments are working and to get ready for more ambitious activities. Today's plan was so full of stuff that we have to do to realize the full potential of MSL that… Read More
