The Curiosity team is currently facing an exciting challenge on Mars. Despite the drill being able to create a hole, the planet’s stubbornness has prevented the drill from reaching a depth where a rock sample can be collected. This has led to the team having to move away from their original target, known as “Lake_Orcadie”.
In an effort to overcome the obstacle of the impenetrably hard bedrock, a group of dedicated scientists and engineers have identified a new drill target named “Lake_Orcadie2”. This new target is located roughly 7 inches to the right of the original one. Curiosity’s main focus now is to thoroughly characterize this new location using instruments such as the APXS and MAHLI after brushing away the debris with the dirt removal tool.
In addition to studying the new drill target, Curiosity will also be examining the wall and tailings from the first drill hole. This will be done using the ChemCam LIBS raster and Mastcam imaging techniques. The team is determined to find a suitable location for drilling and collecting rock samples, and they are optimistic about the potential of the new drill site.