Unearthing the Past: The Race to Excavate Aberlady as NASA’s Next Potential Drilling Target on Mars

On Monday, our short drive brought two potential drill targets into clearer view. The prime candidate, known as “Aberlady,” displayed similarities in color, structure, and texture to the Sol 2365 target “Longannet.” This resemblance gave the science team confidence in Aberlady as a promising site for our first drilling efforts in the clay-bearing unit.

Today, the science team conducted various observations to evaluate Aberlady’s structure, texture, and chemistry. Instruments like APXS and ChemCam were used to gather measurements, while detailed images were taken by MAHLI. The data collected will be vital in making the final decision on whether to proceed with drilling at Aberlady.

The anticipation of what Aberlady may reveal is high, so stay tuned for updates on our findings. With the results of these observations expected before planning tomorrow, the science team will be able to determine if Aberlady is the right target for drilling.