NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Crater Filled With Sand, Alters Drilling Plans

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Crater Filled With Sand, Alters Drilling Plans

Curiosity rover found its target crater filled with sand, forcing NASA to abandon drilling plans. The rover is now studying nearby bedrock and preparing to sample a new sulfate-rich site to uncover Mars’ geological history.

NASA's Curiosity Rover Explores Antofagasta Crater for New Drill Target

Curiosity Rover Explores Antofagasta Crater on Mars The Curiosity rover has successfully reached the rim of the Antofagasta crater on Mars, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing mission. This event took place on April 17, 2026, and while the crater’s well-defined rim was promising, the rover team faced challenges due to unexpected conditions at […]

Curiosity Blog, Sols 4867-4872: Sand Fill In Antofagasta Crater and Finding Our Next Drill Target - NASA Science

Curiosity NavigationCuriosity HomeMission OverviewWhere is Curiosity?Mission UpdatesScienceOverviewInstrumentsHighlightsExploration GoalsNews and FeaturesMultimediaCuriosity Raw ImagesImagesVideosAudioMosaicsMore ResourcesMars MissionsMars Sample ReturnMars Perseverance RoverMars Curiosity RoverMAVENMars Reconnaissance OrbiterMars OdysseyMore Mars MissionsMars Home 3 min readCuriosity Blog, Sols 4867-4872: Sand Fill In Antofagasta Crater and Fin…