Sol 63 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Bright Object

9 October 2012

When I arrived at JPL Monday evening, the discussion was still centered on the bright object seen the previous sol. The Sol 62 plan was revised late in the planning day to acquire more images of this object. The resulting Mastcam and RMI images show that is not a screw, as initially feared, but it's not clear yet what it is. While it is being studied further, a Mastcam mosaic was planned for Sol 63 instead of continuing arm activities.

I was glad to see that the scooping activities had been going well, including vibration of the first scoopful of soil. We are all hoping that the arm activities will resume soon and that the bright object is benign.

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