MSL SOWG Chair Adapts to Unexpected Challenges in Planning Sol 13, Thanks to the Expertise of Scientists and Collaboration

Today, I assumed the role of SOWG Chair for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) to plan activities for Sol 13. The tactical planning team has been improving in efficiency, allowing us to incorporate more scientific observations into our plan. The science team was particularly strong today, led by Steve Squyres, an expert in geology and the former Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. It was a fun experience to work with Steve as he usually works under me as a science lead for the Microscopic imager on the MER instrument arms.

As we worked through the planning process, we faced a challenge when we learned that the SAM instrument checkout planned for Sol 14 would need to be split into two Sols. This was due to the need to analyze the results from the first part on Earth before proceeding with the second part. To avoid wasting an extra sol, we had to quickly reorganize our plan and fit in only half of it on Sol 13. It was a difficult task, but we were able to come up with a new plan and passed it onto the second shift for implementation.

The Opportunity mission, which is still operating above us, provided ongoing support and guidance throughout this process. Despite the challenges faced during planning, having experts like Steve Squyres on our team made a significant difference in putting together a successful plan for Sol 13.