MastCam-Z at full zoom checks out the fractured bedrock where the rover tried to core a few days ago. I've processed the image to pull out the details as the raw image was a little over exposed. Hope that they acquire some SuperCam close-ups :) Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
This proves that they just filmed it at a sound stage filled with painted rocks!!1!!!11!!1!
I never thought I’d want to see this, but I am so intrigued by this and want to know what that looks like up close.
Fake news, everyone knows you can't break bedrock!
you can’t break bedrock!
Unless you phase through the bedrock ;)
Yeah! Looks cool; but, what does it smell like?
Can I lick dat roooock?
Smells like rotten Eggs. You can lick the rock, but blow all the dust off first, as that contains lots of Perchlorate, enough to make it a bad day
Two whole sols with absolutely no images on the server. And this is far from the first time we've seen this in 2025.
Maybe we should send these volunteers to sniff and taste the damned fragments for us, it might get to be more efficient. 🤬
I'm assuming the delay is due to engineering checks on the drill and it's electrical circuits. One of those broken plates appears to have been wedged between between a drill support, and the coring bit. If it was wedged tightly, the sudden additional load on the drill motor may have tripped the rotation of the drill, or if it tripped because the sensors in the robotic arm detected the movement that we can see in the image set.
Whatever it was, I'm assuming that they will need to check out the hardware and electric systems. JPL can communicate in direct mode to the rover rather than through the orbiters for engineering activities. We we would normally be able to see that direct communication on the DSN, but each time I have checked it today there has been zero communications activity from any of the mission missions. that's either a fault or it's another cutback.
DSN: https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now/dsn.html
BTW I'll volunteer to go and check out those fractured rocks. I just need a ride ;)
I think first: where is the sniper
On the plains of Jezero, the secrets of Mars' past await us! Follow for the latest news, updates, pretty pics, and community discussion on NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's most ambitious mission to Mars!