Just rolling into the weekend...
As I make my way to the rim of Jezero Crater, the terrain is expectedly steep and rocky, but I’m getting through it thanks to my team and my self-driving autonomous navigation system, AutoNav.
Bonus: I just passed a drive milestone... 30km!
Update: I've started my climb up the Jezero Crater rim!
My team has a few spots for me to explore along the way – but they're most excited about an area over the crest and outside the crater called Witch Hazel Hill, which includes the most ancient Martian crust on my journey.
After more than two years of exploring the Jezero Crater floor, I’m about to start a months-long journey to the crater’s rim. The climb will include about 1,000 ft (300 m) in elevation gain with slopes as steep as 23 degrees. 📈
What's ahead:
It's
#NationalAviationDay
, but that doesn't seem quite adequate for this pioneering rotorcraft – the first powered, controlled flight on any world other than Earth. 🫶
Celebrate by downloading the
#MarsHelicopter
commemorative poster:
After more than two years of exploring the Jezero Crater floor, I’m about to start a months-long journey to the crater’s rim. The climb will include about 1,000 ft (300 m) in elevation gain with slopes as steep as 23 degrees. 📈
What's ahead:
Oh, how Mars landings have changed.
Pathfinder used giant airbags to land on the Red Planet. A decade later,
@NASAJPL
developed the sky crane maneuver to safely land
@MarsCuriosity
and
@NASAPersevere
.
More on this engineering evolution:
I came to Mars with a job to do: Find and sample the best rocks for future study in labs on Earth.
I’ll keep this special rock core – and the others in my collection – safe until a future mission comes to take them to Earth for further study.
Was Mars home to microscopic life in the distant past?
An intriguing rock spotted by
@NASAPersevere
has qualities that fit the definition of a possible indicator of ancient life. But what did we find, and how will we know for sure?
As Earthlings celebrate the
#Apollo11
anniversary, here on Mars, I recently finished an abrasion patch called "Apollo Temple." It’s a small tribute to the humans who first explored the Moon.
#MoonToMars
"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
#Apollo11
astronaut Buzz Aldrin's iconic bootprint on the Moon's surface inspires to look ahead to the next giant leap: Sending the next astronauts back to the Moon on our
#Artemis
missions.
This is me using AI to better investigate rocks on Mars more quickly! I've been using software that works with my PIXL instrument to beam X-rays at Martian rocks to reveal what minerals are present and then determine if it's worth examining more deeply:
Recently, I've been investigating a rock unlike any my team has seen so far on the planet. It could be among the oldest I've ever investigated – or the youngest.
A lens cover on my SHERLOC instrument got stuck a while back, preventing me from collecting certain types of data that help me look for potential signs of ancient microbial life. But thanks to my ingenious team my instrument is operational again!
There's a potential treasure trove inside each of
@NASAPersevere
’s sample tubes: Martian air!
Scientists could study that air to learn how the Red Planet’s atmosphere and water cycle have changed over time.
A route change on my way to Bright Angel has led me through an unexpectedly diverse geological playground, Neretva Vallis! This ancient river channel – which carried most of the water that flowed into Jezero Crater billions of years ago – is filled with intriguing boulders.
It looks like we’ve switched routines,
@MarsCuriosity
! As winter begins in my Northern Hemisphere locale, the heaters keeping my instruments and motors warm will run longer and more often.
Could someone send me a good book to read while I stay warm overnight?
Summer, summer, summer time 🎶
Today is the summer solstice here in Mars' Southern Hemisphere! The higher temps mean I can spend less energy running heaters to keep my instruments and motors warm – which means more energy for doing science. Sounds like a sweet summer to me 😎
Hi, little fella. Looks like I've picked up another rock friend that my operations team has named Dwayne.
My wheels pick up rocks from time to time. They're harmless and will eventually fall out as I drive around.
Until then, it’s nice to have a companion with me.
It's been a little dusty here in Jezero Crater lately, but that's to be expected... we're in the heart of Martian dust season!
How is it going for you,
@MarsCuriosity
?
Someone understood the assignment... and then went for extra credit. Five flights would have been plenty, buddy!
Our team is celebrating Ingenuity's first flight anniversary today and provided this impressive summary of the
#MarsHelicopter
's entire journey across the Red Planet:
A long goodbye. 🚁
Ingenuity's team received their final message from the
#MarsHelicopter
, which will now serve as a stationary testbed, collecting data that could benefit future explorers of the Red Planet.