Curiosity drills 49th hole and delivers sample to CheMin

Curiosity drilled Nazca, producing its 49th drill hole, and dropped the sample off to CheMin. The drilling followed stability and preload tests in an area with disc-shaped inclusions interpreted as potential crystals. CheMin results are now in transit from Mars to Earth.

The Earth planning date is 2026-10-23, and the listed scientist is Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK.

Curiosity returned to an area with disc-shaped inclusions interpreted as potential crystals. Those potential crystals could indicate environmental conditions, and Nazca contains abundant potential crystals.

Before drilling, a suitable block was found, and Nazca was examined with APXS, MAHLI and ChemCam. The rover passed a stability test, which requires all wheels on solid ground before arm extension, and a preload test, which checks rock stability and arm forces during drilling.

Nazca was drilled as the 49th drill hole, and the sample was dropped off to CheMin. CheMin results are in transit from Mars to Earth and are anticipated to reach Earth over the coming weekend.

Tailings yielded passive spectral and active LIBS measurements, and the drill hole wall yielded a LIBS measurement. The dark pebble Palpala received a LIBS investigation; pebbles are not all the same composition, and a pebble can move when hit by a laser if it is too small.

The verified facts tie disc-shaped inclusions to potential crystals, and potential crystals could indicate environmental conditions. The drilled Nazca sample, together with APXS, MAHLI, ChemCam, LIBS and CheMin measurements, provides several ways to test that interpretation.

For readers tracking the lunar industry, the relevance is methodological: the campaign shows how a remote rover confirms target materials, tests drilling stability, and delivers a sample for mineral analysis. Those are the kinds of steps used to assess environmental conditions and material properties on remote surfaces.

This event continues a drill campaign already tracked by the site. In September, Curiosity made a drilling plan after disc-shaped lumps were observed. On 2026-10-28, the rover relocated toward Chiu Chiu to prepare for the next drilling campaign, with Nazca cleared for science and preload work moving ahead.

By 2026-11-10, a three-sol plan was moving the Nazca drilling campaign toward its closing stage.

CheMin results are anticipated to reach Earth over the coming weekend.

Puna was identified in Friday's planning. Planned observations include a ChemCam LIBS depth profile at Llama, a measurement of disc-shaped forms at Pacaya, and several long-distance RMIs focused on Mishe Mokwa and Cordillera. Mishe Mokwa and Cordillera are buttes that reveal sedimentary structures and textures.