On Sol 4895 (May 14, 2026) Curiosity’s arm was freed from the Atacama block, clearing the way for a fresh drilling mission. The rover has identified a new target named Campo Marte, a layer of sulfate-bearing rock above the boxwork structures that mirrors the geology of the Atacama site. Campo Marte, whose Spanish name means “Field of Mars,” is located in the same Martian quadrangle that has inspired other South‑American–themed target names.

Before drilling, Curiosity mapped the block’s composition with the Alpha Particle X‑ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the ChemCam laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), while the Mast Camera (MAHLI) delivered close‑up images. LIBS rasters also sampled nearby vein‑like and nodular features, enriching the geochemical context. Imaging from multiple angles revealed that Campo Marte is thicker than the Atacama block, a factor that should help keep the target stable during penetration and allow the drill bit to be withdrawn normally.

While the rover was busy preparing for the new drill, it also supported the Psyche spacecraft’s flyby of Mars. Psyche, en route to the asteroid 16 Psyche, used the close pass to gain a gravitational boost toward the main asteroid belt. Curiosity timed a series of atmospheric observations to coincide with the flyby: a zenith‑view movie from Navcam to record cloud activity and a solar observation from Mastcam to measure atmospheric opacity. These data, combined with concurrent measurements from Mars orbiters and the Perseverance rover, help validate Psyche’s instruments and data‑analysis pipelines.

The Curiosity team remains focused on its primary mission objectives—examining Martian geology and climate—while also contributing to planetary science across the solar system. The upcoming drill at Campo Marte is expected to provide new insights into the planet’s sulfate‑rich layers and the processes that shaped them.

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Curiosity’s latest activities illustrate the rover’s continued ability to conduct detailed surface investigations while simultaneously supporting other missions in our solar system.