Curiosity Rover Nears Potential Erosional Supersurface on Mount Sharp

Curiosity spent the recent week ascending Mount Sharp, focusing on a sedimentary layer that orbital data suggested could be an erosional supersurface—a regional truncation of older deposits before newer ones were laid down. After backing away to obtain a broad view, the rover captured extensive Mastcam mosaics and long-range ChemCam images of the candidate area. Scientists also measured the composition of rocks at the lower edge using MAHLI, APXS, and LIBS targets named Monte Darwin, Patacamaya, Tarucachi, and Mojoncasa.

Monday’s drive positioned the rover closer to the feature, allowing the team to select the most promising crossing point while navigating sandy and steep terrain. The upcoming drive will place Curiosity at the base of the layer, setting up a potential traverse over the supersurface in the following week.