Curiosity Rover Accidentally Lifts Rock from Mars Surface
NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally pulled a rock from the Martian surface during a drilling operation, an event that was captured in a series of images.
A sequence of images from NASA's Curiosity rover shows an unusual event where a rock became stuck to the rover's drill, ultimately being lifted from the Martian surface. The incident occurred during a drilling operation on April 25, 2026, when the rover attempted to collect a sample from a rock named 'Atacama.'
The rock, measuring about 1.5 feet across and weighing approximately 28.6 pounds, remained attached to the drill sleeve as the rover retracted its robotic arm. This was the first time a rock had stayed connected to the drill rather than being broken apart, according to NASA. Engineers initially tried to dislodge it by vibrating the drill, but the effort was unsuccessful.
Over the following days, the team adjusted the robotic arm's position and tried again, with the rock still refusing to detach. On May 1, a new approach involving steeper drill angles, rotation, and vibration was used, and the rock finally broke free upon hitting the ground. The event was recorded by the rover's hazard and navigation cameras.
Curiosity, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is part of the Mars Exploration Program. The mission continues to provide valuable insights into the Red Planet's geology and environment.
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