The first test is promising, but Curiosity will next need to drill a deeper hole and try out the shaker method. “Next, we have to drill a full-depth hole and demonstrate our new techniques for delivering the sample to Curiosity’s two onboard labs”. Despite being about 140 million miles away from the Curiosity rover, NASA scientists have successfully tested the rover’s drill for the first time since it broke using a new improvised method tested here on Earth. The wheels are holding together and it has recovered from the electrical problems, but the drill has haunted the machine for over a year. Continue reading →