Balancing Science and Navigation: The Mars Rover’s Journey to Aeolis Mons

Our rover continues to excel in autonomous navigation, allowing us to plan a drive of over 100 meters with minimal delays. Today, we are confident enough in the view ahead to spend more time studying intriguing features along the way to Aeolis Mons (“Mt. Sharp”). However, this leaves less time for targeted scientific observations. This trade-off between observations and drive distance was expected once AutoNav was successfully tested on the B computer, but it is still a difficult decision to make.

Gale crater was chosen as the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) precisely because of the opportunity to investigate the geologic history preserved in the layers of Aeolis Mons. The ultimate scientific objective is to reach the base of the mountain with minimal delays, prioritizing the study of its intriguing geological layers. Some scientists are eager to spend more time studying these features along the way, but we must balance our desire for scientific discovery with our need for efficient navigation and timely arrival at our destination.