Planets and Moons  ID: 11276

Drilling On Mars

Story by Elizabeth Zubritsky Released on July 2, 2013
Download Options
Watch the Curiosity rover in action as it bores into Martian bedrock.
NASA's Curiosity rover is the first robot to collect a sample drilled from the surface of Mars. On February 8, 2013, the tool at the end of Curiosity's robotic arm successfully drove a drill bit about two and a half inches into a flat patch of rock. Analysis of the powdery sample collected from the rock, now named John Klein, showed environmental conditions that could have been favorable for microbial life. This rock lies in Glenelg, a region where scientists found evidence of past water. The rover drilled into a second rock nearby, called Cumberland, on May 19 to confirm the results of the initial tests. This time, Curiosity made use of its new capability to stow some of the sample, in case more tests need to be conducted later. Watch the video and animation to see how Curiosity drills.
Download Options
This animation depicts the maneuvers that Curiosity must perform in order to drill.
Download Options
Curiosity drills at the site named Cumberland. The rover's Front Hazard-Avoidance Camera took these images on May 19, 2013.
Download Options
The tip of Curiosity's drill bit is slightly more than half an inch wide. This close-up was taken on the rover's 172nd Martian day.
Download Options
The drilling left gray powder around the hole. The smaller holes are laser shots that Curiosity fired to check the powder's composition.
Download Options
The small lumps seen this image of Cumberland are mineral clumps that form in wet environments, indicating water once soaked this area.

For More Information

NASA.gov

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Elizabeth Zubritsky (ADNET)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Video and animation courtesy of NASA/JPL
Drill bit image courtesy of NASA/JPL/Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/LPGNantes/CNRS
Ground images courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11276

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons