Sol 2129: Dude, where’s my data?
1 August 2018Curiosity is currently on her way to a potentially softer rock target to drill in the Pettegrove Point member of Vera Rubin Ridge. Today was a late slide sol, which means we had to wait until 11am PDT for the downlink to arrive. Unfortunately, we didn’t get our downlink… Read More
Blood Moon Tonight
27 July 2018Tonight you can see a Blood Moon lasting longer than ususal. Update: See it here if you missed it. Credits: NASA
Astrogeology, Shoemaker, Cinder Lakes, and the Moon
31 July 2018In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Lunar Landing having begun July 20 and continuing through July 2019, in Flagstaff, AZ — what better time exists to expose a true, raw, behind-the-scenes account of Astrogeology’s (Astro) involvement in the Apollo Era and spare no… Read More
Sol 2116: Driving back to Sgurr of Eigg
19 July 2018The Sol 2115 wheel imaging went well, and we received the images needed to plan a drive back to "Sgurr of Eigg," near the Sol 1999 rover position. The >50-meter drive dominates the Sol 2116 plan, but leaves time for continued atmospheric and other scientific observations. Before… Read More
Sol 2115: New method of wheel imaging
18 July 2018The priorities for Sol 2115 are to image the rover's wheels and acquire the images needed to plan a drive back to the Sol 1999 location, where we might start another drilling campaign. The MAHLI images of the wheels taken on Sol 2114 with the dust cover closed show that there is enough… Read More
Good Times at the Lunar Legacy Celebration Begin July 20
17 July 2018Individuals of the Astrogeology Team will be at the Lunar Legacy Celebration, July 20, at the Orpheum Theatre in Flagstaff, Arizona. Not only will you not want to miss this fun family-friendly event, it is totally free. The city will be celebrating Flagstaff’s scientific role in the… Read More
Beloved JPL Selected for an Emmy: Sweet!
18 September 2018Update: And the Emmy goes to: Cassini's Grand Finale! Will NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) be granted an Emmy for Outstanding Original Interactive Program for its coverage of the Cassini mission? Alongside every other person sitting on pins and needles, individual curiosity can’t be… Read More
Sol 2113: Hard as a rock
16 July 2018Unfortunately, we found out this morning that the “Voyageurs” drill target was a much harder rock than expected. While our drill plan executed perfectly, our bit stopped short of the full depth we need for sampling. The engineers are still evaluating the data to better… Read More
Sols 2110-2112: Let the drill fest begin!
13 July 2018Drilling on another planet is no easy feat, and each time we have the opportunity to do so on Mars feels pretty special. The focus of the weekend three-sol plan is to drill the target “Voyageurs,” which is part of an outcrop that shows a high hematite signature in orbital… Read More
Happy July 4th and 1997 throwback!
3 July 2018Twenty-one years ago Mars Pathfinder landed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station along with a wheeled robotic rover named Sojourner in Ares Vallis, on Mars, on July fourth of 1997. The mission was launched on December 4, 1996 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Transmissions ceased from… Read More
