NASA's Curiosity Rover Prepares to Drill Target Named Nazca on Mars
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory team announced on Oct. 28, 2026, that the Curiosity rover is preparing to drill a rock target named "Nazca." The target sits just a few meters from a block called "Chiu Chiu" and contains an abundance of disc- and needle-shaped crystal structures. Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the mission team approved the site after reviewing close-up images taken following the rover's recent Basque Lakes drill campaign. Curiosity's instruments will analyze the rock's surface and internal structure before drilling. These tests include using the ChemCam laser to fire 150 shots into a single spot on a nearby target named "Toucan," penetrating about five times deeper than usual to inspect interior mineral layers. The team is also using the rover's MAHLI camera to build high-resolution three-dimensional models of the crystal forms. These observations help researchers study how past fluids, salts, and temperatures shaped rocks on Mars.
What was announced
The Mars Science Laboratory mission team at NASA announced plans to prepare the Curiosity rover for drilling at a new target named "Nazca." The decision came after Curiosity moved a few meters past a block called "Chiu Chiu," which contained appealing target features but was unsuited for drilling.
Before setting the drill into motion, the rover team scheduled multiple scientific observations. Curiosity will use its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to capture five overlapping images at slightly different geometries, creating a three-dimensional model of the surface relief. The camera will also double its focusing steps to capture fine details of the target's shape.
Meanwhile, Curiosity's ChemCam instrument will execute a depth profile experiment on a nearby rock called "Toucan." ChemCam usually spreads 150 laser shots across five separate points on a target. In this test, all 150 laser shots will hit a single spot to vaporize rock surface material and penetrate about five times deeper into the sample. Additionally, the team scheduled nighttime atmospheric observations of Mars' larger moon, Phobos, to measure cloud particle sizes as twilight cloud season begins.
What it means
The "Nazca" target contains disc- and needle-shaped textures formed by mineral crystals. These shapes offer clues about the temperature, liquid, and salt levels present when the minerals formed on Mars.
However, the present minerals might not match the original compositions. Later mineral replacements can form pseudomorphs, which keep the old shape while altering the chemical structure. Firing the ChemCam laser deeper into "Toucan" allows scientists to check if internal layers differ from surface material exposed to modern Martian air. Comparing surface scans, deep laser cuts, and drill samples helps researchers reconstruct the ancient environment on Mars.
What the announcement does not tell us
The update does not give a specific date for when drilling at "Nazca" will begin or finish. It also does not disclose what chemical elements or minerals the team expects to identify inside the rock core. Finally, the post does not detail how long the Phobos night observations will run or when the atmospheric cloud results will be published.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is NASA News Releases’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 Following the Basque Lakes drill campaign, Curiosity has returned to a spot just a few meters away from the “Chiu Chiu” block to conduct our next drill campaign. “Chiu Chiu” itself wasn’t a good candidate for […]
Opens science.nasa.gov
More from NASA News Releases
- NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects7 November 2026
- NASA Seeks Next Generation of Explorers to Join Astronaut Corps7 November 2026
- APOD: 2026 November 7 – De Gerlache-Kocher Massif7 November 2026
- M30’s Sparkling Stars6 November 2026
- Supercomputing Tech Demo Schedule6 November 2026
This content is for informational purposes only and is not professional advice. Specifications, prices, plan tiers, and features change frequently and may differ from what is shown here; verify current details on the manufacturer's or company's official page before purchasing. Ratings are based on analysis of published documentation, not independent lab testing.