The Mars rover Curiosity successfully completed drilling its 48th rock target, named Basque Lakes, in the Cache Creek quadrangle of Gale Crater during the Mars Science Laboratory mission.
This operation took place on September 23, 2026 (Sol 5023), according to a NASA statement released on October 4, 2026. The Cache Creek sector is named after a region in British Columbia, Canada, known for its geological diversity, including oceanic crust, marine sediments, volcanic rocks, and glacial deposits. This terrestrial area also hosts lakes with unusual chemistries, which may be analogous to ancient Martian lakes.
Scientists eagerly await the results of the X-ray diffraction (CheMin) analysis of the sample, which should provide clues about the mineral composition and the rock’s depositional and alteration history. This study could reveal similarities with minerals found in the terrestrial Cache Creek region.
Since landing, Curiosity has traveled over 38 kilometers on Mars, ascending more than one kilometer in elevation, and continues to explore areas named after terrestrial geological sites.