NASA's Curiosity Drills Mars at 'Field of Mars' Site

A NASA rover on Mars is drilling into a block of red sandstone named after the planet itself.

Curiosity chose a new drilling target called "Campo Marte" after its previous attempt had an unexpected hiccup. The name comes from a natural red sandstone feature in Bolivia and translates from Spanish as "Field of Mars."

The team selected this thicker, more stable rock after the last drill target, nicknamed "Atacama," lifted off the ground during drilling instead of staying put. Scientists hope Campo Marte's greater mass will keep it firmly on the Martian surface this time.

Before drilling, Curiosity used multiple instruments to study the rock's composition and structure. The rover captured close-up images and measured chemical properties of Campo Marte and nearby features, including vein-like structures and blocks covered in unusual polygonal textures.

This rock represents an important layer in Mars's geological history. It sits above fascinating boxwork structures in what scientists call the layered sulfate unit, helping researchers understand how Mars changed over billions of years.

Why This Inspires

While Curiosity worked on Mars, it took time to help a neighbor. The Psyche spacecraft flew past Mars in May 2026 to gain a gravitational boost toward the asteroid belt, and Curiosity paused its normal schedule to support the mission.

The rover captured special atmospheric observations including cloud movies and solar measurements timed perfectly with Psyche's flyby. These coordinated efforts, along with data from Mars orbiters and the Perseverance rover, helped validate Psyche's instruments before it reaches its destination: asteroid 16 Psyche, one of the largest members of an asteroid category never before visited.

This collaboration shows how NASA's robotic explorers work as a team across millions of miles. Each mission supports the others, sharing the Martian skies and scientific opportunities to advance our understanding of the solar system.

Campo Marte awaits its examination, ready to reveal secrets from ancient Mars while spacecraft old and new continue humanity's greatest journey of discovery.