Written by Lucy Thompson, Senior Research Scientist, University of New Brunswick, Canada
Earth planning date: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Before landing, the Gale Crater region we intended to explore was divided into rectangular quads, each named after small towns linked to notable geological features. Targets such as mesas, bedrock, soil, and boulders within these quads received unofficial names based on the quad’s theme. Curiosity has long since moved beyond the original quad boundaries after a 14‑year, 38‑kilometer trek that included more than 1 kilometer of elevation gain.
We have recently entered the new Cache Creek quad, named for an area of striking geological diversity in British Columbia, Canada. The Canadian Cache Creek region showcases oceanic crust, marine sediments, volcanic rocks, and glacial deposits, and hosts lakes with unusual chemistries that may mirror ancient Martian lakes. It also lies at the southern end of the 1860s Gold Rush Trail, where prospectors once searched for riches. This week, Curiosity completed its 48th rock drilling in Gale Crater, targeting “Basque Lakes” within the Cache Creek quad. While we are not expecting literal gold, the upcoming CheMin X‑ray diffraction analysis of the drill sample promises to reveal a wealth of mineralogical insights. We aim to understand the rock’s depositional and alteration history and see if minerals similar to those found in Cache Creek’s lakes are present on Mars.
As the APXS uplink lead and strategic planner this week, I coordinated the triage contact science for the Basque Lakes drill target and relayed findings to the team. APXS was placed in contact with the rock to measure its chemistry, while MAHLI captured detailed textures at a distance of about 1 cm. ChemCam fired its laser to further characterize the composition. After engineers performed a pre‑load stability test, MAHLI imaged the target again. Data from these instruments informed the decision to proceed with drilling.
Despite power constraints inherent to drilling operations and the rover’s advancing age, we managed additional science activities. Mastcam provided contextual imagery of the surrounding terrain for the new drill sample. ChemCam analyzed the chemistry of a nearby bedrock target named “Peace River” and used its imaging and passive spectroscopy capabilities to examine the drill hole and surrounding tailings. Remote imaging also captured an intriguing deposit of jumbled blocks at the base of a nearby butte called “Cordillera.” Navcam and Mastcam continued to monitor environmental and atmospheric conditions within Gale Crater.
Analysis of the Basque Lakes drill sample will continue next week with delivery of material to SAM, which will uncover further details about the rock’s history. Curiosity is expected to remain at this location for another week before the sample is dumped and the rover drives on to further explore Mount Sharp and Gale Crater.