MISSION UPDATES | August 10, 2014

Sol 714 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ryan Anderson: On Solid Ground

Written by Ryan Anderson, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center


The Sol 713 drive got us out of the sand and onto solid (albeit rocky) ground! For Sol 714, the plan is to
drive the rest of the way out of Hidden Valley to a slight high point in the terrain so that we can take
pictures for route planning. Before the drive on sol 714, there is a ChemCam blind observation and a
Mastcam observation of a target called Harkless. During the drive, there will be a pause for some mid-
drive imaging of the rover’s tracks. And then on sols 715 and 716 the rover will be in planned runout
mode, meaning it will just make routine environmental measurements.


Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.