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SHERLOC WATSON Cropped composite of three images assembled using MS-ICE. Looking at the other images gathered, it appears ad though they were inspecting the large round SuperCam window. The rover fires its laser at rocks and soils through that window, using its optics to analyze its targets by optical emission, and to acquire images of the targets using its RMI camera (Remote Microscopic Imager). November 28, 2025 (Sol 1697) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
I see the raw image of the week is a close up of that window. Was there any discussion about what they were looking for? Or is this just routine?
Was there any discussion about what they were looking for? Or is this just routine?
AFAIK: Nothing has been mentioned, but they've acquired a rather large number of images of the window in recent times. I can't see anything out of place in the images, but there are mechanisms behind the window that I believe are associated with the focus of the RMI camera. MSL had issues with Curiosity's RMI camera, so I assume they could just be checking it out of an abundance of caution. The RMI camera is still in use, as is the laser, so if there is an issue, it does not seem to be affecting performance.
To show you all is well.... Here's a processed pair of 'Before and After' SuperCam RMI's. These are from Sol 1699 at site 81.4488 looking WNW just before 9 am local mean solar time. Processing was by 65dBnoise and posted by him on Mastodon. You can see the sites of the laser strikes on the 'After' image :)
Original (unprocessed images): https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01699/ids/edr/browse/scam/LRF_1699_0817755289_604EBY_N0814488SCAM01699_0050I6J01.png https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01699/ids/edr/browse/scam/LRF_1699_0817756657_259EBY_N0814488SCAM01699_0100I6J01.png
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/65dBnoise
