Curiosity reconnoiters way through the sand dunes

If you remember, the main reason for stopping the Spirit rover was sand, which stuck the rover (this happened at Gusev Crater). So, chassis Curiosity designed taking into account the previous errors, and the like as the rover is no problem to ride on the sand. In any case, as previously thought. And it is now possible to verify this assertion.

The project team decided to test the Curiosity rover's power to overcome the sand dunes, good, next to it just is the right place. We are talking about a place that gave the name to NASA Dingo Gap, here's a picture of 28 January, where one dune perfectly clear (photo taken from a distance of 35 meters).



The height of the dunes is about 1 meter, and after her, as scientists assume, can be quite easy "road" on which the rover gets to the mountains Sharpe.

Here is a photograph taken in the vicinity of the dunes, in fact, the rover drove on the very edge of the dunes, in order to obtain a clear image of the object, and give scientists the opportunity to find out what's what.



While that is not exactly decided whether a rover "go ahead" by Dingo Gap, but this is currently one of the main. If it is decided to send the rover through the dunes, the specialists at first look like "behaves" model of the rover on Earth in the laboratory, in similar conditions, and then the new path will be directed himself Curiosity.

It is worth noting that the first of January this year, the rover has already crossed 264, 7 meters, heading to Mount Sharp - one of its main objectives. During our stay on Mars Curiosity did 4, 89 kilometers away. This, of course, less than in the case of "Opportunity", but still - a solid achievement.

Well, let's expect a scenario, let's see whether NASA will send a rover directly through the dunes, or will select an alternative way.

Via nasa

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/211046/