{"id":16636,"date":"2026-10-28T08:02:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/curiosity-blog-sols-5043-5049-preparing-to-drill-at-nazca\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T08:02:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:02:26","slug":"curiosity-blog-sols-5043-5049-preparing-to-drill-at-nazca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/curiosity-blog-sols-5043-5049-preparing-to-drill-at-nazca\/","title":{"rendered":"Curiosity Blog, Sols 5043-5049: Preparing to Drill at \u2018Nazca\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 5043-5049: Preparing to Drill at \u2018Nazca\u2019<\/h2>\n<p><!-- no image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px 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href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/#missions\" rel=\"noopener\">More Mars Missions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars Home<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\">\n<div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\">\n<p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">4 min read<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 5043-5049: Preparing to Drill at \u2018Nazca\u2019<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_msss_05048_mhli_5048MH0009170001804540R00_DXXX.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"A close-up, overhead view of the Martian surface taken by the Curiosity rover. The image focuses on fine, granular, orange-brown sand that has been heavily disturbed. It features repeating curved ridges and compressed flat areas, likely tracks left by the rover&apos;s wheels. Sunlight casts tiny shadows across the textured dirt, emphasizing the depth of the deep imprints and the fine grains of the soil. (opens in a new tab)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1584\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_msss_05048_mhli_5048MH0009170001804540R00_DXXX.jpg?w=1584&amp;h=1184&amp;fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1584x1184 size-1584x1184\" alt=\"A close-up, overhead view of the Martian surface taken by the Curiosity rover. The image focuses on fine, granular, orange-brown sand that has been heavily disturbed. It features repeating curved ridges and compressed flat areas, likely tracks left by the rover&apos;s wheels. Sunlight casts tiny shadows across the textured dirt, emphasizing the depth of the deep imprints and the fine grains of the soil.\" loading=\"eager\"><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this close-up image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), showing the abundance of roughly disc-shaped potential crystal forms on our next drill target, informally named \u201cNazca.\u201d The scratches made by the DRT brush are also visible in this image. MAHLI, located on the turret at the end of the rover\u2019s robotic arm, uses an onboard focusing process to make a composite of images of the same target acquired at different focus positions, to bring multiple features into focus in a single image. Curiosity composed the image on Oct. 18, 2026, Sol 5048 (Martian day 5,048 of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission), at 12:19:51 UTC.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5029-5035-back-in-the-lab\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Basque Lakes drill campaign<\/a>, Curiosity has returned to a spot just a few meters away from the \u201cChiu Chiu\u201d block to conduct our next drill campaign. \u201cChiu Chiu\u201d itself wasn\u2019t a good candidate for drilling but the block just beyond it was much more promising, so it became our drive target during Monday\u2019s planning. I was on planning Friday as Geology and Mineralogy Science Theme Lead when we received our close-up views of the neighbor block from the post-drive imaging and our team was happy to see that it was jam-packed with the \u201cdisc- and needle-\u201d shaped lumps, just like \u201cChiu Chiu.\u201d We quickly gave the science go-ahead to proceed with preparations for drilling at the newly named \u201cNazca\u201d site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One major hypothesis about how the \u201cdiscs and needles\u201d texture formed is that the characteristic shapes were originally created during the growth of crystals, or \u201ccrystal forms.\u201d Minerals will tend to grow into specific shapes depending on their microscopic crystal structure, similar to the salt crystals that you can grow in your kitchen as a home science project. (Maybe you have grown one of those for a science class in school!) The relatively large sizes of the crystal forms at \u201cNazca\u201d and \u201cChiu Chiu\u201d are providing clues about the temperature at the time when they grew and the availability of salts and fluids. However, we can\u2019t necessarily assume that the modern-day composition represents the original mineral because sometimes mineral crystals are replaced by other minerals some time after original crystallization. The new minerals are then known as \u201cpseudomorphs\u201d because they have the same shape as the first minerals but not the same composition or molecular structure.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we prepared for the drill preload test, we also planned several special observations aimed at highly detailed characterization of the crystal forms. MAHLI will execute a Quantitative Relief Model (\u201cQRM\u201d) observation consisting of five overlapping images at slightly different geometries. The combination of these will enable a detailed three-dimensional relief model to be constructed. In addition, MAHLI will also add extra frames to its highest-resolution imaging by doubling the number of focus mechanism steps. Together, these observations will increase the resolution of the 3D models we will have of the crystal forms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the ChemCam LIBS will conduct a \u201cdepth profile\u201d experiment to obtain compositional information from slightly deeper layers within a nearby crystal-form-rich target, \u201cToucan\u201d. Normally the 150 LIBS laser shots from each sol\u2019s observation are spaced out over a five-point raster at 30 shots per point, but this time we are concentrating all 150 laser shots on the same spot on the rock. Since each laser shot vaporizes a very small amount of the rock to form a plasma, the 150-shot profile should penetrate approximately five times deeper than a normal 30-shot point observation. We will thus be able to observe the composition deeper inside the exposed crystal form and see whether it\u2019s different from the surface-level composition. There are several reasons this could be the case including exposure of the surface to the modern Martian environment and also the circumstances in which the crystal form developed originally, so it\u2019s an experiment worth pursuing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The LIBS, DRT and APXS will also be applied to the \u201cNazca\u201d spot before the preload test to characterize its surface composition as thoroughly as possible before drilling. The third LIBS of the plan will go to \u201cCondor,\u201d a nearby block in which a finely layered texture is exposed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also continued to observe the modern Martian environment as <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5036-5042-watching-the-clouds-go-by\/\" rel=\"noopener\">twilight cloud season<\/a> begins. In this plan we included some nighttime imaging of the larger and brighter of Mars\u2019 two satellites, Phobos. Capturing images of Phobos and the nearby sky when Phobos is full can show sunlight reflecting off the moon and scattering in the Martian atmosphere, providing a good way to estimate the particle sizes in the Martian clouds. We can do similar measurements sometimes with solar observations, but the Phobos data allow us to measure cloud particle sizes later in the night. We expect to be measuring high-altitude carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) clouds in this observation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-module alignwide wp-block-nasa-blocks-listicle\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle bg-spacesuit-white maxw-full width-full padding-0 color-mode-light nasa-gb-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-wrapper padding-y-4 padding-x-3\">\n<h2 class=\"hds-listicle-heading\"><\/h2>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 listicle-layout-basic\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 padding-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-text-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-list-text\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-22\">Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"hds-listicle-list-description\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/msl-curiosity\/science-updates\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-sm hds-listicle-button link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 \"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tVisit Mission Updates<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 padding-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-text-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-list-text\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-22\">Want to learn more about Curiosity\u2019s science instruments?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"hds-listicle-list-description\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/msl-curiosity\/science-instruments\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-sm hds-listicle-button link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 \"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Science Instruments page<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-5 round-image-section\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-rounded-image\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover listicle-media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/general\/images\/2024\/08\/buckskinmtsharpmars.jpg?w=768&amp;h=432&amp;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"A rover sits on the hilly, orange Martian surface beneath a flat grey sky, surrounded by chunks of rock.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/general\/images\/2024\/08\/buckskinmtsharpmars.jpg?w=768&amp;h=432&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/general\/images\/2024\/08\/buckskinmtsharpmars.jpg?w=300&amp;h=169&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/general\/images\/2024\/08\/buckskinmtsharpmars.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/general\/images\/2024\/08\/buckskinmtsharpmars.jpg?w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&amp;text=Curiosity%20Blog%2C%20Sols%205043-5049%3A%20Preparing%20to%20Drill%20at%20%E2%80%98Nazca%E2%80%99&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fscience.nasa.gov%2Fblog%2Fcuriosity-blog-sols-5043-5049-preparing-to-drill-at-nazca%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on 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margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Oct 28, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-blogs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Blogs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\n<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/tingas-tale\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_2009_0845281389_428EBY_N0911496ZCAM10039_1100LMJ.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_2009_0845281389_428EBY_N0911496ZCAM10039_1100LMJ.jpg?w=319&amp;h=319&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_2009_0845281389_428EBY_N0911496ZCAM10039_1100LMJ.jpg?w=300&amp;h=300&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Tinga\u2019s Tale<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 day ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/tracks-along-the-longest-drive-on-another-world\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_NLF_2006_0845030184_441ECM_N0911496NCAM03006_04_195J.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_NLF_2006_0845030184_441ECM_N0911496NCAM03006_04_195J.jpg?w=319&amp;h=319&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_NLF_2006_0845030184_441ECM_N0911496NCAM03006_04_195J.jpg?w=300&amp;h=300&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Tracks Along the Longest Drive on Another World<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5036-5042-watching-the-clouds-go-by\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_05037_opgs_edr_ncam_NRB_844669907EDR_S1250558NCAM00543M_.JPG\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_05037_opgs_edr_ncam_NRB_844669907EDR_S1250558NCAM00543M_.JPG?w=319&amp;h=319&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_05037_opgs_edr_ncam_NRB_844669907EDR_S1250558NCAM00543M_.JPG?w=300&amp;h=300&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 5036-5042: Watching the Clouds Go By<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It\u2019s the only planet we know of inhabited\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1456\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/mars\/resources\/detail_files\/7\/7668_Mars-viking-2-orbiter-global-view-partial-valles-marinares-PIA04304-full2.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=1456&amp;fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1456 size-1536x1456\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>All Mars Resources<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/mars\/resources\/detail_files\/2\/5\/25757_1-PIA24543-Curiositys-Selfie-at-Mont-Mercou-main-web.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=792&amp;fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1200x792 size-1200x792\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/rover-basics\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Rover Basics<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=50 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=100 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=150 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=200 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=300 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=400 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=600 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=768 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=900 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=1536 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=1536\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&amp;p=322764\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars Exploration: Science Goals<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA\u2019s four\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1536&amp;h=864&amp;fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x864 size-1536x864\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=300&amp;h=169&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=768&amp;h=432&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1024&amp;h=576&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1536&amp;h=864&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=900&amp;h=506&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1200&amp;h=675&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wpematico_credit\"><small>Powered by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wpematico.com\" target=\"_blank\">WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5043-5049-preparing-to-drill-at-nazca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get The Details&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 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