Curiosity’s looks up Valle Grande to its future travels
Click for high resolution. For original images go here, here, and here.
Click for interactive map.
Cool image time! The panorama above was created by me using three pictures taken today by the left navigation camera on the Mars rover Curiosity (see here, here, and here).
The overview map to the right provides the context. The white dotted line indicates Curiosity’s actual travels, while the red dotted lines its planned route, both in the past and in the future. The blue dot marks its approximate position when these images were taken. The yellow lines indicate approximately the view.
The panorama looks up this spectacular valley, which the science team has named Valle Grande. The red dotted line on the panorama is my guess as to the rover’s future route. It will like not follow such a straight path, but weave back and forth as the science team directs it to look at interesting geological features along the way.
What remains unknown is the route the rover will take once it reaches those light-colored hills in the distance. The science team so far not indicated any chosen route through those hills. I suspect they want to get closer and do some on-site scouting before making any decision. The nature of that light terrain remains unknown. It could be easily traversed, or it could be a problem. From a distance it looks very soft, and thus it will likely required close inspection to make any definite plans.
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Bob, do you have any clear idea of how much more operational time NASA thinks Curiosity has left in it?
(I suppose I’m assuming the wheels can hold out and the real limiting factor is power.)
Richard M: If the question is just power, Curiosity could likely function for decades. Think of the Voyager craft. As power declines they could prioritize the most important tasks. Either way, it should have enough power to move for at least one or two decades more.
As you say, the wheels are another question.