Photo credit: science.nasa.gov

Curiosity Rover’s Progressing Journey: New Developments on Mars

The latest planning session for the Curiosity rover, dated March 31, 2025, has brought about two significant updates that enhance our mission on Mars. The first highlights the successful completion of a 50-meter drive, bringing Curiosity closer to emerging from the narrow canyon that has defined its recent travels, steering towards intriguing geological formations known as “boxwork” to the southwest. The second notable update is the successful passing of the “Slip Risk Assessment Process” (SRAP), ensuring that all six wheels of the rover are securely on solid ground.

Last week presented challenges in the SRAP that restricted our capacity to use the rover’s arm for scientific activities. However, with the recent approval, Curiosity’s suite of contact science instruments is back in operation. The rover’s arm will engage right away on the first sol of the new planning cycle, beginning with the APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer) analysis on a bedrock target named “Los Osos” after it has been cleaned of Martian dust using the Dust Removal Tool (DRT). Further arm activities will encompass a series of MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager) observations in the afternoon, focusing on both “Los Osos” and another target called “Black Star Canyon.”

Despite the progress with contact science, remote sensing instruments are also very much active. The mission involves more than two hours dedicated to remote sensing, split across the two sols and involving both the Geology and Mineralogy (GEO) and Atmosphere and Environment (ENV) science teams. GEO will utilize Mastcam to conduct surveys across various terrains, creating mosaics of structures like “Devil’s Gate” and smaller troughs nearby. There are also plans for more imagery of “Gould Mesa,” which has been a focal point in several previous examinations. Additionally, ChemCam will perform a LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) observation of “Fishbowls,” complemented by Mastcam imaging and several RMI (Remote Micro-Imager) mosaics of Gould Mesa and “Torote Bowl,” which was also documented during the previous weekend.

On the ENV side, activities remain consistent with seasonal monitoring goals. Curiosity is tracking the development of the Aphelion Cloud Belt (ACB) and noting changes in dust presence inside Gale Crater and the atmosphere above. This includes capturing several Navcam cloud movies, tracking dust levels with line-of-sight observations, and evaluating dust devil activity through dedicated imaging sessions. The plan also incorporates the standard suite of REMS (Rover Environmental Monitoring Station), RAD (Radiation Assessment Detector), and DAN (Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons) observations, which are essential for understanding the Martian environment.

The short drive planned for today is only about 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) as Curiosity ascends a small ridge, which restricts visibility of the terrain ahead. While Curiosity is equipped with safety features to navigate challenging landscapes, avoiding unseen obstacles remains a priority. With continued observations, we look forward to progressing towards the boxwork structures with enhanced knowledge of our surroundings.

Source
science.nasa.gov