March 30th 2013 Sol 231

We are now back to full operations after the software problems, and getting in observations prior to the planetary conjunction.  This also gives us the opportunity to analyse the samples in CheMin for longer, the more X-ray photons that the ChemMin CCD detects, the more confident we can be of the accuracy of mineral percentages at relatively low abundances. 

We are also using the cameras for post-drilling checks of the instruments.  Here is an image of the intact drill bit, post-drilling.  Building up knowledge of the type of material (mudstone in this case) we are looking at, will help with future drilling plans.