Sunday August 19th Sol 14

Excellent ChemCam  LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Results) on our first rock.  This means that in addition to imaging data from MastCam we are now getting compositional data.  ChemCam will be one of the most frequently used techniques on Curiosity.  It will be essential to analyse rocks and ground surfaces before the X-ray Diffraction and X-ray fluorescence experiments which require deployment of the robotic arm and thus take up more time.  We are now getting used to using the software to plan analyses using ChemCam at an appropriate azimuth, elevation and distance from the Curiosity mast.

The image shows the first target ‘Coronation’ for ChemCam.  The pyramidal type shape has resulted from the wind sculpting the rock to create surfaces called ventifacts.