Mars Drilling on Hold: Scientists Evaluate Potential Target ‘Aberlady’

On Monday, we embarked on a short drive that led to the discovery of two potential drill targets. The prime candidate, known as “Aberlady,” displayed striking similarities in color, structure, and texture to the Sol 2365 target “Longannet.” This prompted the science team to consider Aberlady as a promising site for our first drilling efforts in the clay-bearing unit.

To determine if Aberlady is indeed the best choice for drilling, the science team decided to conduct various observations today. They used instruments like APXS and ChemCam to evaluate its structure, texture, and chemistry. Additionally, detailed images were taken by MAHLI to gather data that would aid in making the final decision on whether to proceed with drilling at Aberlady.

The anticipation of what Aberlady may reveal is high. As such, we will be providing updates on our findings once the results of these observations are available before planning tomorrow.