Curiosity Faces Unexpected Challenges in Drilling Mars Rocks

The Curiosity team is currently facing an exciting challenge as they attempt to drill a rock sample on Mars. Despite successfully creating a hole, the drill has been unable to reach the desired depth due to the stubbornness of Mars’ bedrock. This has forced Curiosity to move away from its original target, “Lake Orcadie”.

As they searched for a new location, a team of scientists and engineers identified a new target, “Lake Orcadie2”, located 7 inches to the right of the initial target. Curiosity is now focused on thoroughly characterizing this new location using various instruments such as APXS and MAHLI, as well as the dirt removal tool.

In addition, the team plans to study the wall and tailings from the first drill hole using ChemCam LIBS raster and Mastcam imaging. Despite the challenges faced, including finding a suitable location and dealing with unexpected obstacles such as unstable terrain and harsh weather conditions, the Curiosity team remains dedicated and determined to successfully collect a rock sample from Mars.