NASA's Curiosity rover encountered an unusual problem for the first time during its mission. On April 25, while drilling a rock named "Atacama," a 13-kilogram rock fragment got stuck to the drill and lifted along with the surface. This was reported by Ixbt.com reports .
Engineers initially tried to get rid of the rock by vibrating the drill, but it was ineffective. After several days of attempts, on May 1, specialists changed the angle of the manipulator and simultaneously activated the drill head rotation and strong vibration. As a result, the rock detached, fell to the ground, and shattered.
This process was fully recorded by the rover's navigation cameras. Scientists noted that this technical anomaly provided valuable data for studying Mars geology. This incident helps in understanding the mechanical properties of Martian soil and the specifics of the drilling process.
Curiosity has been conducting research on the Red Planet for over a decade. Each new unexpected situation not only tests the durability of the equipment but also enriches our understanding of the processes on the planet's surface.
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