Curiosity Drilled Into a Rock on Mars and Gave Scientists a Big Surprise

NASA’s Curiosity rover hit an unusual snag while drilling a rock nicknamed Atacama on April 25, 2026.

The drill accidentally pulled the entire slab up with its sleeve, and engineers later freed it on May 1.

The rover’s drill has had technical issues before, but Curiosity remains active and keeps sending valuable Mars data.

The incident shows both the unpredictability of Martian rocks and the engineering challenge of long-term exploration.