NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Drills into Red Planet in Hunt for Life

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, the vehicle that's trekking across the Red Planet in hopes of making novel discoveries, has officially drilled into its second rock. The sample, once analyzed by the rover's onboard laboratory, could reveal new insight into the origins of Mars.

The site where Curiosity drilled is called "Cumberland," and lies about nine feet west of the rock where the rover's drill first touched the Martian surface in February. There, Curiosity took the first ever sample from Mars from a rock called "John Klein." The first test was a success; scientists were able to see evidence of an ancient environment that was favorable to microbial life, hinting at a Martian past that may have supported alien life. This evidence included an energy gradient that could be exploited by microbes and water that was not harshly acidic or briney.

While the two drilling sites are similar, Cumberland seems to have more of the erosion-resistant granules that cause surface bumps. These bumps are concretions, or clumps of minerals, which formed when water soaked the rock long ago. Analysis of a sample containing more material from these concretions could provide information about the variability within the rock layer than includes both John Klein and Cumberland.

Now, the rover has successfully collected a powdered sample from the interior of Cumberland. In coming days, the sample will be delivered in portions to laboratory instruments inside the rover. There, it will be analyzed for composition and signs of life.

Currently, Curiosity is about nine months into a two-year prime mission since landing inside Gale Crater on Mars in August 2012. Its next step after analyzing the rock sample and conducting other investigations nearby will be to drive toward the base of Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall layered mountain located inside the crater.

Want to follow Curiosity's movements and mission for yourself? You can check out the rover on NASA's website here.