CuriousMars: Mars Drilling Delayed
CuriousMars: Curiosity Begins Rock Triage to Avoid Dangers of “Martian Honey”, SpaceRef
From Craig Covault and A.J.S. Rayl “The first use the rover Curiosity’s drill to obtain subsurface samples from inside a rock on Mars will be delayed until mid to late January to reduce risk to the rover during its first drilling operations.”
“The delay is needed to complete extensive target rock “triage” to ensure that the heat from drilling friction will not cause the pounded rock sample to turn into a kind of gooey “Martian honey” that would foul rover components, perhaps fatally.”
Great scenery.As if I was there in person.Does look like the shoreline of a bay.Nice article.