Mars Perseverance Sol 330– WATSON Camera: NASAs Mars Perseverance rover got this image utilizing its SHERLOC WATSON cam, situated on the turret at the end of the rovers robotic arm. This image was acquired on Jan. 23, 2022 (Sol 330) at the regional mean solar time of 16:50:41. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The last 2 pebbles hitching a trip aboard our rovers bit carousel are gone but not forgotten. Ill offer you the latest on why they are gone and after that inform you why we are not forgetting them– or the two other pebbles that made our first month of 2022 a busy one.
Confirmation
We had more than a suspicion the rocks had actually left the Perseverance rover on Sunday when imagery of the bit carousel came down after a short 16-foot (5 meter) drive to a neighboring rocky outcrop. That drive, which occurred on the previous sol, was designed to get us to a small rocky outcrop that would position the rover at an angle that might be beneficial for ejecting the pebbles.
To be extensive (since we Mars objectives like to be), we did a complete rotation of the bit carousel in both instructions, with the rover oriented in a 13.2-degree roll to the left, and we found nothing preventing its development. We likewise ran the rovers percussion drill to cause vibration, wishing to shake any possible remaining debris free from the bit holder. Lastly, we docked the drill to the bit carousel and dropped off the bit.
Mars Perseverance Sol 330– WATSON Camera: NASAs Mars Perseverance rover obtained this image utilizing its SHERLOC WATSON video camera, situated on the turret at the end of the rovers robotic arm. To be extensive (due to the fact that we Mars missions like to be), we did a full rotation of the bit carousel in both directions, with the rover oriented in a 13.2-degree roll to the left, and we discovered nothing impeding its development. We likewise ran the rovers percussion drill to induce vibration, hoping to shake any possible remaining debris totally free from the bit holder. We did a terrific deal of screening before we got there, but Mars is Mars.
With this last step we are happy to announce our tasting system is up and running and ready to go, which is a good idea, because were going to utilize it right away. The science group wants another sample from the rock they call “Issole,” so we drove the 16 feet (5 meters) back and are now in the process of collecting one.
Determination Playbook
As you know, Perseverance is the first sample caching mission on the Red Planet. We did an excellent deal of testing prior to we got there, however Mars is Mars. And that absence of cooperation often extends to the rocks our science group wants to sample.
— know that our very first attempt to core a rock was less than satisfying, with the sample collapsing before we could collect it. We learned a lot from rock target “Roubion,”and we customized our playbook to understand much better how to gather samples– and from which rocks.
Written by Avi Okon, Sampling Operations Deputy Lead at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.