This Mars Rock Refused To Let Go of NASA’s Curiosity Rover

NASA’s Curiosity rover accidentally pulled a Martian rock loose while drilling a sample from Atacama on April 25, 2026.

The rock got stuck on the drill sleeve, prompting several days of vibrations, arm repositioning, and drill rotation attempts.

Engineers at NASA JPL and Caltech eventually saw the rock detach and break apart on the Martian surface.

The episode underscores the unusual challenges of Mars drilling and the team’s ability to respond with rover maneuvers and drill vibrations.