<\/p>\n
4 min read<\/p>\n
By Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, U.K.<\/p>\n
Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 31, 2025<\/p>\n
I am writing this blog and it\u2019s still daytime \u2014 and I am looking forward to accompanying one of my favorite kids to trick-and-treating afterwards. That\u2019s a new feeling for me because I am usually in the U.K., which means my Curiosity shifts start in the late afternoon when everyone else finishes working. But for now, I am in the U.S. (Houston, Texas), and it\u2019s daytime, which is a lovely change, especially today as I don\u2019t have to hide from trick-and-treaters\u2019 interruptions but instead can give out all the candy they can possibly eat! Looking forward to that\u2026 but before, let\u2019s see what Curiosity was up to this week!<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll have seen the blog by my colleague Bill, \u201cSearching for Answers at Monte Grande,\u201d<\/a> about our analysis of the \u201cValle de la Luna\u201d sample with CheMin and SAM EGA. This week we were continuing the SAM analysis of the 44th drilled sample, which always takes a lot of power, so that leaves less room for other investigations. Hence, you might notice that there were fewer ChemCam and Mastcam activities. The rover also did not drive while sample is still in the turret ready for delivery of the next SAM activities. Curiosity has now completed the deliveries to CheMin and SAM, though, and the last action in Friday\u2019s plan was to clean out the remaining sample from the drill in preparation for driving away here in Monday\u2019s plan.\u00a0<\/p>\nIn Monday\u2019s plan we\u2019ll reposition the rover to get a very good look at the potential next drill targets on the ridge. We\u2019ve been able to scout them already in previous images and have a few candidates, but decision-making will require images from Monday\u2019s parking position, since we are currently parked in a hollow and cannot really see what\u2019s up on the ridge.<\/p>\nThat said, being stationary has always been a golden opportunity for looking at wind action, and this week was no difference as Mastcam looked at the drill fines several times over the time we were stationary, to ascertain the safety for MAHLI to approach \u2014 and of course to use those images for atmospheric science, too. In addition, Mastcam took the opportunity to get comprehensive imaging of the entire area. There are several mosaics that document the near-field, for example at target \u201cNazareth.\u201d In the mid- and far-field distances, Mastcam assembled a large mosaic on \u201cMonte Grande\u201d and \u201cTicaco\u201d to document the different rocks in the surrounding ridge walls and wider afield. There are so many interesting textures and alteration features, alongside troughs and fractures, that the team will have a fun time analyzing them all in great detail individually, as well as their relationships to each other.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nChemCam has investigated the Valle de la Luna drill hole and tailings as per the usual cadence of post-drilling activities, and in addition investigated target Nazareth to understand how the block that Curiosity drilled might vary chemically. Another ChemCam target was \u201cPachica,\u201d as the team observed many nodules in this target and we are interested in their chemical variability and \u201cPalpana,\u201d a more smooth block. Further investigations of the Valle de la Luna drill hole with ChemCam are targets \u201cAnapia\u201d and \u201cBandara\u201d to further investigate the chemical diversity of the drill target block.<\/p>\nChemCam Remote Micro Imager (RMI) observations were also taken in the near-field and farther away. In the near-field, RMI images are documenting further details on the Valle de la Luna drill hole and its tailings, while further afield the Monte Grande Wall is one of the RMI targets alongside with other details in the boxwork ridges around us. On Friday, the RMI was pointed far uphill to continue imaging the yardang unit, which is one of our next goals in the longer term future.<\/p>\nIn addition to all the drill activities and rock investigations, the atmosphere received attention too. We have the usual cadence of environmental investigations, building our long-term pressure, temperature, and humidity record of Mars; and we observe the atmospheric opacity, dust-devil activities, and clouds. Of course, we are all looking forward to next week, when we will decide on the second drill target in this area, this time on the ridge. Let\u2019s see what block will be looking best, both from a science and an engineering point of view \u2013 we\u2019ve got a short list of candidates; the detailed images are for Monday\u2019s plan. Meanwhile, we\u2019ll enjoy trick-and-treating here on Earth and our weekends while Curiosity finishes the drill activities at Valle de la Luna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to read more posts from the Curiosity team?<\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVisit Mission Updates \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n\nWant to learn more about Curiosity\u2019s science instruments?<\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Science Instruments page \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp<\/div>\nNASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/circle><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDetails<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLast Updated<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNov 13, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRelated Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\nBlogs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4695-4701: Searching for Answers at Monte Grande<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t40 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4689-4694: Drill in the Boxwork Unit is GO!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t43 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n4 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4682-4688: Seven Mars Years<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t50 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
In Monday\u2019s plan we\u2019ll reposition the rover to get a very good look at the potential next drill targets on the ridge. We\u2019ve been able to scout them already in previous images and have a few candidates, but decision-making will require images from Monday\u2019s parking position, since we are currently parked in a hollow and cannot really see what\u2019s up on the ridge.<\/p>\n
That said, being stationary has always been a golden opportunity for looking at wind action, and this week was no difference as Mastcam looked at the drill fines several times over the time we were stationary, to ascertain the safety for MAHLI to approach \u2014 and of course to use those images for atmospheric science, too. In addition, Mastcam took the opportunity to get comprehensive imaging of the entire area. There are several mosaics that document the near-field, for example at target \u201cNazareth.\u201d In the mid- and far-field distances, Mastcam assembled a large mosaic on \u201cMonte Grande\u201d and \u201cTicaco\u201d to document the different rocks in the surrounding ridge walls and wider afield. There are so many interesting textures and alteration features, alongside troughs and fractures, that the team will have a fun time analyzing them all in great detail individually, as well as their relationships to each other.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
ChemCam has investigated the Valle de la Luna drill hole and tailings as per the usual cadence of post-drilling activities, and in addition investigated target Nazareth to understand how the block that Curiosity drilled might vary chemically. Another ChemCam target was \u201cPachica,\u201d as the team observed many nodules in this target and we are interested in their chemical variability and \u201cPalpana,\u201d a more smooth block. Further investigations of the Valle de la Luna drill hole with ChemCam are targets \u201cAnapia\u201d and \u201cBandara\u201d to further investigate the chemical diversity of the drill target block.<\/p>\n
ChemCam Remote Micro Imager (RMI) observations were also taken in the near-field and farther away. In the near-field, RMI images are documenting further details on the Valle de la Luna drill hole and its tailings, while further afield the Monte Grande Wall is one of the RMI targets alongside with other details in the boxwork ridges around us. On Friday, the RMI was pointed far uphill to continue imaging the yardang unit, which is one of our next goals in the longer term future.<\/p>\n
In addition to all the drill activities and rock investigations, the atmosphere received attention too. We have the usual cadence of environmental investigations, building our long-term pressure, temperature, and humidity record of Mars; and we observe the atmospheric opacity, dust-devil activities, and clouds. Of course, we are all looking forward to next week, when we will decide on the second drill target in this area, this time on the ridge. Let\u2019s see what block will be looking best, both from a science and an engineering point of view \u2013 we\u2019ve got a short list of candidates; the detailed images are for Monday\u2019s plan. Meanwhile, we\u2019ll enjoy trick-and-treating here on Earth and our weekends while Curiosity finishes the drill activities at Valle de la Luna.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVisit Mission Updates \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n\nWant to learn more about Curiosity\u2019s science instruments?<\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Science Instruments page \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp<\/div>\nNASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/circle><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDetails<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLast Updated<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNov 13, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRelated Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\nBlogs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4695-4701: Searching for Answers at Monte Grande<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t40 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4689-4694: Drill in the Boxwork Unit is GO!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t43 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n4 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4682-4688: Seven Mars Years<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t50 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Science Instruments page \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp<\/div>\nNASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/circle><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDetails<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLast Updated<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNov 13, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRelated Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\nBlogs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4695-4701: Searching for Answers at Monte Grande<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t40 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n3 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4689-4694: Drill in the Boxwork Unit is GO!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t43 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n4 min read<\/div>\n\nCuriosity Blog, Sols 4682-4688: Seven Mars Years<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t50 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKeep Exploring<\/div>\nDiscover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n