Aberlady: The Promising Drilling Target for Mars’ Clay-Bearing Unit

On Monday, we embarked on a short drive that brought two potential drilling targets into clearer view. The standout candidate, known as “Aberlady,” shared similarities in color, structure, and texture with 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.

To confirm Aberlady’s suitability for drilling, the science team decided to conduct observations today to evaluate its structure, texture, and chemistry. They utilized instruments such as APXS and ChemCam, as well as detailed images captured by MAHLI. The data gathered will be vital in making the final decision on whether to proceed with drilling at Aberlady.

With anticipation of what Aberlady may reveal running high, the science team is eagerly awaiting the results of these observations before planning tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates on our findings.