Curiosity Rover's Drill Gets Stuck by Martian Rock 'Atacama' for a Week

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover encountered an unexpected obstacle when a 28.6-pound (13 kg) rock, estimated at 1.5 feet in diameter, became lodged on its drill sleeve during a sampling attempt on April 25. The rock, nicknamed 'Atacama,' refused to detach despite the rover's efforts to shake it off by vibrating the drill and tilting its arm. Located 140 million miles from Earth with a 30-minute signal delay, the issue required a week to resolve. On May 1, NASA's team successfully dislodged the rock by tilting, rotating, vibrating the drill, and spinning the bit; the rock fractured upon hitting the ground. This marks the first time a rock remained attached to the drill sleeve, though previous drilling had fractured upper rock layers. The incident highlights the challenges of remote operation on Mars, where Curiosity has been active for nearly 14 years. The rover's wheels have also suffered damage from the harsh terrain, with the middle-right wheel showing severe wear in photos sent back in March.