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The NASA Curiosity rover has been flying the surface of Mars for a long time. One of the missions for which the rover is preparing is the first ever gathering of drill samples on what has been called the "clay-containing unit". It is a big rock also called "Aberlady". marks the first time that curiosity has broken through in this area.
The drilling took place on April 6th and on April 10th, the sample that the rover had drilled had been taken to the internal mineralogy laboratory of the rover. NASA notes that the Curiosity drill is equipped with a drill that is easy to drill into the rock. Its last drill site on Vera Rubin Ridge was much harder to drill.
The new sample was the first sample obtained only by rotating the bit. Previous samples required the use of percussion drilling. Curiosity worked very well for NASA during the seven years of its presence on Mars. Drilling in the clay-based unit is an important step in the rover's journey on Mount Sharp.
NASA wishes to analyze the sample for traces of mineral clay, as these usually form in the water. One of the goals of the mission is to shed light on the distant past, while it was thought that Mars had a thicker atmosphere and liquid water.
NASA found clay minerals in the mudstones during its journey in the mountains. Mudstones formed when river sediments were deposited in ancient lakes almost 3.5 billion years ago. These ancient lakes and other waters of the planet have finally dried up.
Interestingly, when Curiosity drilled the clay material, the rock broke and slightly exited the surface. NASA has announced plans to drill several times over the next year.
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