NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has successfully drilled its 44th hole on the Martian surface, marking a significant milestone in its investigation of the mysterious "boxwork unit." The drilling took place over the weekend within the "Monte Grande" hollow at the "Valle de la Luna" target.
The rover team is analyzing data from various instruments onboard Curiosity to determine how the boxwork features formed. While initial studies have revealed subtle differences between rocks in the ridges and those in the hollows, a detailed explanation for these differences remains elusive.
Meanwhile, remote sensing data are being collected by Curiosity's Mastcam instrument of several targets, including atmospheric observations. These efforts aim to provide insights into the Martian environment and inform future drilling strategies.
In the coming week, the rover will focus on analyzing the drilled sample with additional experiments, as well as examining the tailings. The team is also searching for a suitable drilling location on a ridge to compare with the Monte Grande hollow results.
To stay up-to-date with the latest Curiosity mission updates and learn more about its science instruments, visit NASA's website.
The rover team is analyzing data from various instruments onboard Curiosity to determine how the boxwork features formed. While initial studies have revealed subtle differences between rocks in the ridges and those in the hollows, a detailed explanation for these differences remains elusive.
Meanwhile, remote sensing data are being collected by Curiosity's Mastcam instrument of several targets, including atmospheric observations. These efforts aim to provide insights into the Martian environment and inform future drilling strategies.
In the coming week, the rover will focus on analyzing the drilled sample with additional experiments, as well as examining the tailings. The team is also searching for a suitable drilling location on a ridge to compare with the Monte Grande hollow results.
To stay up-to-date with the latest Curiosity mission updates and learn more about its science instruments, visit NASA's website.