Curiosity Drills 48th Rock Sample at Basque Lakes

NASA's Curiosity Rover Drills 48th Rock Sample at Basque Lakes on Mars

The operation in Gale crater follows 14 years and 38 kilometers of exploration across the Martian surface.

NASA's Curiosity rover has drilled its 48th Martian rock sample at a target named Basque Lakes in Gale crater. The operation took place in the Cache Creek quad during the vehicle's 14th year on Mars, according to mission team member Lucy Thompson. The collected powder will undergo onboard mineralogical and chemical analysis before the rover departs the site.

NASA's Curiosity rover has drilled into its 48th rock target on Mars, extracting powdered material from a site named Basque Lakes in Gale crater, according to mission team member Lucy Thompson.

The target sits inside the rover's Cache Creek quad, an exploration zone named after a geologically diverse area in British Columbia, Canada. The operation marks another stage in Curiosity's 14-year, 38-kilometer (24.6-mile) journey across Mars, a route that has taken the vehicle up more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) in elevation.

Prior to drilling, the science team conducted triage contact science on the bedrock. According to Thompson, this pre-drill sequence involved placing the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) directly against the target rock, positioning the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera within 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) of the surface, and firing the ChemCam laser at the bedrock.

Curiosity photographed the drill target on Sept. 23, 2026 (Sol 5023) at 03:56:10 UTC using MAHLI, capturing the surface directly after a mechanical pre-load test.

Instrument testing and regional surveys

Following the successful drill operation, powdered rock was set aside for internal laboratory examination. CheMin X-ray diffraction analysis of the drilled sample was scheduled into the rover's operational plan following Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, Thompson reported.

Curiosity also carried out science tasks in the adjacent area. These activities included ChemCam analysis of a bedrock target called Peace River, remote imaging of jumbled blocks at the base of Cordillera butte, and ongoing environmental monitoring with the rover's Navcam and Mastcam systems.

Curiosity is expected to remain at the Basque Lakes site for another week. During that time, the rover will deliver sample material to the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite before dumping the remaining rock powder and resuming its drive.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Basque Lakes target?

Basque Lakes is the 48th rock target drilled by NASA's Curiosity rover, located in the Cache Creek quad of Gale crater on Mars.

How far has Curiosity traveled on Mars?

Curiosity has completed a 14-year trek covering 38 kilometers (24.6 miles), gaining more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) in elevation.

What happens next with the Basque Lakes sample?

The sample was scheduled for CheMin X-ray diffraction analysis and delivery to the SAM instrument before Curiosity dumps the remaining powder and resumes driving.