Martian ‘Bonanza King’ rock deemed unsuitable for Curiosity drilling

(Curiosity preparing to test the rock – Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Evaluation of a Martian rock, scheduled to be the next drilling target for NASA’s Curiosity rover, has revealed that it was not stable enough for a safe drilling, therefore Curiosity has abandoned its fourth drilling target and will now continue travelling towards its long term science destination in the Gale Crater.

ESA astronaut steers Eurobot rover on Earth from space

(Eurobot – Photo Credit: ESA)

European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, currently working and living on the International Space Station, has steered the Eurobot rover through a series of intricate manoeuvres, despite the Expedition 40 Flight Engineer being located in low-Earth orbit.