I'm in Pasadena this week for an MSL team meeting, but may have to return home tomorrow if the government is shut down. I'd hate to miss the meeting and associated discussions with my colleagues, but as a USGS civil servant I will be required to stop working and cut my trip short. Therefore, I might not be able to work on MSL until Congress reaches an agreement on the fiscal 2014 budget. Fortunately, the rover will continue to operate, as JPL employees are not civil servants. So, hopefully, the progress toward Mt. Sharp will continue.
Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center
