[meteorite-list] Curiosity Update: Scuff Stuff

[Ron Baalke]

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1369

Scuff Stuff
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
October 5, 2012

On Sol 58 (Oct. 4, 2012) Curiosity maneuvered its arm to use instruments for close-up 
examination of sandy material at the "Rocknest" site. The inspections with the Mars 
Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) focused on 
targets in and near a wheel scuff that Curiosity made on the preceding sol to 
freshly expose material in a wind-sculpted ripple. These activities were 
preparation for planned first use of the rover's scoop.

A Sol 58 raw image at http://1.usa.gov/UHIyL6 from Curiosity's front Hazard Avoidance 
Camera after the Sol 56 drive, shows the arm extended toward the scuff in the ripple.

Sol 58, in Mars local mean solar time at Gale Crater, ended at 9:45 p.m. Oct. 4, PDT 
(12:45 a.m. Oct. 5, EDT).