PILOT / UPC Data Release March 2015: MESSENGER

16 March 2015

The NASA/USGS PDS Imaging Node has added the following data to the Unified Planetary Coordinate (UPC) Database. MISSION / INSTRUMENT: MESSENGER Release #13MDIS-NAC. Mapped Images: 29,056. Unmapped Images: 612.MDIS-WAC. Mapped Images: 6,274. Unmapped Images: 1585. Please visit PILOT to… Read More

PILOT / UPC Data Release February 2015: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

15 February 2015

The NASA/USGS PDS Imaging Node has added the following data to the Unified Planetary Coordinate (UPC) Database. MISSION / INSTRUMENT: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter / LROC-NACRelease #20. Mapped Images: 49,109. Unmapped Images: 2. Please visit PILOT to access/download the new release.

Sols 1003-1004: Last tactical planning before solar conjunction

1 June 2015

Today is the last day of MSL tactical operations until after solar conjunction, so this will probably be the last MSL update for a few weeks.  Ryan Anderson and I are both on shift as payload uplink lead today, but because the instruments we're representing (ChemCam and MAHLI/MARDI,… Read More

Sols 1000-1002: Photometry

29 May 2015

  We're planning 3 sols of MSL activities today, starting with Sol 1000!  As we continue to prepare for solar conjunction, arm motion is allowed in this plan, but no contact science.  The plan starts with ChemCam and Mastcam observations of a platy rock called "Newland" and a… Read More

Sol 999: Last MAHLI images before conjunction

28 May 2015

Today is the last day we can plan MAHLI activities before the operational stand-down for solar conjunction, to ensure that we have time to confirm that MAHLI's dust cover is safely closed.  So we worked to include as many MAHLI images as possible in the Sol 999 plan, making for a rather hectic… Read More

Name Approved for Crater on the Moon: Pierazzo

28 May 2015

The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved the name Pierazzo for a crater on the Moon. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. 

Sol 998: Contact Science at Marias Pass

27 May 2015

A short bump on Sol 997 put Curiosity in a great position to investigate a few different rock units in Marias Pass, using the instruments on the rover’s arm.  The 2.5 m drive brings our total odometry to 10,599 m.  With the upcoming solar conjunction (Mars will be on the opposite… Read More

Names Approved for Two Montes on Mars

27 May 2015

The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved names for two features on Mars: Coprates Montes and Nectaris Montes. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Sol 997: Preparing for contact science

26 May 2015

Curiosity spent the weekend characterizing the terrain and bedrock exposed in Marias Pass.  Curiosity drove 33 m further into Marias Pass, bringing our total odometry to 10,596 m.   The drive set us up perfectly to investigate the contact between two different types of bedrock… Read More

Sols 993-996: A long weekend at Marias Pass

22 May 2015

On Sol 992 Curiosity took a short drive into Marias Pass to get a better look at the terrain ahead.  The 6 m drive on Sol 992 brought our total odometry to 10,562 m.  It also put Curiosity in a great position for targeted science over the long holiday weekend. The 4 sol plan includes… Read More