NASA
NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins, First to Sequence DNA in Space, Retires
NASA astronaut and microbiologist Kate Rubins retired Monday after 16 years with the agency. During her time with NASA, Rubins completed two long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, logging 300 days in space and conducting four spacewalks.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Kate for her dedication to the advancement of human spaceflight,” said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “She is leaving behind a legacy of excellence and inspiration, not only to our agency, but to the research and medical communities as well. Congratulations, Kate, on an extraordinary career.”
Rubins’ first mission to the orbiting laboratory began in July 2016, aboard the first test flight of the new Soyuz MS spacecraft. As part of Expedition 48/49, she contributed to more than 275 scientific experiments, including molecular and cellular biology research, and she was the first person to sequence DNA in space. Her work enabled significant advances with in-flight molecular diagnostics, long-duration cell culture, and the development of molecular biology tools and processes, such as handling and transferring small amounts of liquids in microgravity. Rubins also led the integration and deployment of biomedical hardware aboard the space station, supporting crew health and scientific research in space and on Earth.
She again launched in October 2020, aboard a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, taking part in Expedition 63/64. Alongside her crewmates, Rubins spent hundreds of hours working on new experiments and furthering research investigations conducted during her mission, including heart research and multiple microbiology studies. She also advanced her work on DNA sequencing in space, which could allow future astronauts to diagnose illness or identify microbes growing aboard the station or during future exploration missions.
“From her groundbreaking work in space to her leadership on the ground, Kate has brought passion and excellence to everything she’s done,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “She’s been an incredible teammate and role model. We will miss her deeply, but her impact will continue to inspire.”
In addition to her flight assignments, Rubins served as acting deputy director of NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate, where she helped guide strategy for crew health and biomedical research. More recently, she contributed to developing next-generation lunar spacesuits, helping prepare for future Artemis missions to the Moon.
Before her selection as an astronaut in 2009, Rubins received a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a doctorate in cancer biology from Stanford University Medical School’s Biochemistry Department and Microbiology and Immunology Department. After returning from her second space mission, Rubins commissioned as a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving as a microbiologist in the Medical Service Corps. She currently holds the role of innovation officer with the 75th U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command’s MedBio Detachment, headquartered in Boston.
A frequent keynote speaker at scientific, educational, and industry events on space biology, biomedical engineering, and human exploration, Rubins has advocated for NASA’s scientific and exploration missions. As she transitions from government service, she remains committed to advancing innovation at the intersection of biology, technology, and space.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to live and work in space,” said Rubins. “I am grateful for the extraordinary advances at NASA, and it was a privilege to serve and contribute to something so meaningful. The mission of exploration continues, and I can’t wait to watch this nation do what once seemed impossible.”
Learn more about how NASA explores the unknown and innovates for the benefit of humanity at:
-end-
Raegan Scharfetter
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-910-4989
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4611-4613: Scenic Overlook
- Curiosity Home
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- News and Features
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2 min read
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4611-4613: Scenic Overlook NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image, sitting on top of the distinctive ridge-and-hollow terrain of the boxwork-forming unit for a panoramic view, on July 24, 2025. Curiosity used its Right Navigation Camera on Sol 4609, or Martian day 4,609 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, at 21:29:43 UTC. NASA/JPL-CaltechWritten by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Earth planning date: Friday, July 25, 2025
A 23-meter drive (about 75 feet) brought Curiosity to today’s planned “look-about” spot. The highlight of the plan will be the 360-degree Mastcam panorama that will document the ridge-and-hollow topography of the boxwork-forming unit we’ve been exploring, in addition to overlying stratigraphy in some of the nearby buttes. The right-angle ridge pattern is quite prominent in the HiRISE orbital imaging, which enabled us to plan for this stop. It has been 70 sols since the last panorama, and the rover has driven quite some distance in that time!
Additional detailed imaging was planned with the ChemCam remote imager (RMI) and Mastcam high-resolution M100: mosaics will cover the exposed strata underneath the ridge we’re planning to drive on (“Arequipa Airport”), two linear fractures, one parallel to the large ridge and one cross-cutting it (“Laguna de Salinas” and “Laguna Santa Rosa”), some troughs around a nearby light-toned float block (“Arubai”), and the Uyuni butte in the middle distance.
The bedrock texture here was a noticeable change from the previous workspace, with a knobbly oriented texture interspersed occasionally with platier exposures. Geochemical measurements were planned with the ChemCam LIBS to complement the auto-targeted post-drive AEGIS measurement: “La Coca” on a block that appeared to show unusual colors, and “El Algodón” on a knobbly textured chunk of bedrock. APXS geochemistry was planned with dust removal on the “Yura Tuff” knobbly target and without dust removal on the “Tipnis” target. MAHLI will also provide close-up imaging on the two APXS targets.
For the modern Martian environment, it’s still the cloudy season at Gale so we are planning several cloud-related activities. The Mastcam sky survey will measure abundances of atmospheric dust and water ice, whereas a special cloud altitude observation will include video of clouds and their shadows so that the altitudes and velocities of the clouds and related winds can be calculated. A separate short movie will search for dust lifting (dust devil) activity. Finally, the usual passive REMS and DAN observations will monitor the temperature, humidity, and neutron environment at Curiosity’s current location.
For more Curiosity blog posts, visit MSL Mission Updates
Learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments
Share Details Last Updated Jul 28, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards
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6 days ago
Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars
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Curiosity Blog, Sols 4611-4613: Scenic Overlook
- Curiosity Home
- Science
- News and Features
- Multimedia
- Mars Missions
- Mars Home
2 min read
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4611-4613: Scenic Overlook NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image, sitting on top of the distinctive ridge-and-hollow terrain of the boxwork-forming unit for a panoramic view, on July 24, 2025. Curiosity used its Right Navigation Camera on Sol 4609, or Martian day 4,609 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, at 21:29:43 UTC. NASA/JPL-CaltechWritten by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Earth planning date: Friday, July 25, 2025
A 23-meter drive (about 75 feet) brought Curiosity to today’s planned “look-about” spot. The highlight of the plan will be the 360-degree Mastcam panorama that will document the ridge-and-hollow topography of the boxwork-forming unit we’ve been exploring, in addition to overlying stratigraphy in some of the nearby buttes. The right-angle ridge pattern is quite prominent in the HiRISE orbital imaging, which enabled us to plan for this stop. It has been 70 sols since the last panorama, and the rover has driven quite some distance in that time!
Additional detailed imaging was planned with the ChemCam remote imager (RMI) and Mastcam high-resolution M100: mosaics will cover the exposed strata underneath the ridge we’re planning to drive on (“Arequipa Airport”), two linear fractures, one parallel to the large ridge and one cross-cutting it (“Laguna de Salinas” and “Laguna Santa Rosa”), some troughs around a nearby light-toned float block (“Arubai”), and the Uyuni butte in the middle distance.
The bedrock texture here was a noticeable change from the previous workspace, with a knobbly oriented texture interspersed occasionally with platier exposures. Geochemical measurements were planned with the ChemCam LIBS to complement the auto-targeted post-drive AEGIS measurement: “La Coca” on a block that appeared to show unusual colors, and “El Algodón” on a knobbly textured chunk of bedrock. APXS geochemistry was planned with dust removal on the “Yura Tuff” knobbly target and without dust removal on the “Tipnis” target. MAHLI will also provide close-up imaging on the two APXS targets.
For the modern Martian environment, it’s still the cloudy season at Gale so we are planning several cloud-related activities. The Mastcam sky survey will measure abundances of atmospheric dust and water ice, whereas a special cloud altitude observation will include video of clouds and their shadows so that the altitudes and velocities of the clouds and related winds can be calculated. A separate short movie will search for dust lifting (dust devil) activity. Finally, the usual passive REMS and DAN observations will monitor the temperature, humidity, and neutron environment at Curiosity’s current location.
For more Curiosity blog posts, visit MSL Mission Updates
Learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments
Share Details Last Updated Jul 28, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards
Article
5 hours ago
2 min read Feeling the Heat: Perseverance Looks for Evidence of Contact Metamorphism
Article
6 days ago
3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4607-4608: Deep Dip
Article
6 days ago
Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited…
All Mars Resources
Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,…
Rover Basics
Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a…
Mars Exploration: Science Goals
The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four…
Join Second Lady Usha Vance as She Reads to Children at NASA Johnson
As part of her Summer Reading Challenge, Second Lady Usha Vance will host an event for children in grades K-8 on Monday, Aug. 4, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Media are invited.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams will join Ms. Vance to read a space-related book to children and participate in other space-related activities.
Live coverage of the reading will stream about 2:45 p.m. EDT on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
U.S. media interested in participating in this event must RSVP to NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens at: bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov, as well as Office of the Second Lady Communications Director Nicole Reeves at: nicole.e.reeves@ovp.eop.gov. Requests must be made no later than 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31. Confirmed media will receive additional details from NASA. The agency’s media accreditation policy is online.
Through her reading challenge, the Second Lady is encouraging youth to seek adventure, imagination, and discovery between the pages of a book. Students interested in participating in the challenge must read 12 books by Friday, Sept. 5. Additional details, including where to download a reading log, and how to submit it to the White House, are available online.
As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars, inspiring Golden Age explorers, and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery.
Learn more about NASA missions online at:
-end-
Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
Join Second Lady Usha Vance as She Reads to Children at NASA Johnson
As part of her Summer Reading Challenge, Second Lady Usha Vance will host an event for children in grades K-8 on Monday, Aug. 4, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Media are invited.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams will join Ms. Vance to read a space-related book to children and participate in other space-related activities.
Live coverage of the reading will stream about 2:45 p.m. EDT on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
U.S. media interested in participating in this event must RSVP to NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens at: bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov, as well as Office of the Second Lady Communications Director Nicole Reeves at: nicole.e.reeves@ovp.eop.gov. Requests must be made no later than 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31. Confirmed media will receive additional details from NASA. The agency’s media accreditation policy is online.
Through her reading challenge, the Second Lady is encouraging youth to seek adventure, imagination, and discovery between the pages of a book. Students interested in participating in the challenge must read 12 books by Friday, Sept. 5. Additional details, including where to download a reading log, and how to submit it to the White House, are available online.
As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars, inspiring Golden Age explorers, and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery.
Learn more about NASA missions online at:
-end-
Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
Ames Exchange Lodging Info
If you’re visiting Ames for an extended period, you’ll need lodging that’s in the area, and affordable. This article will go over the lodging options that we have on-center.
Who May Stay?
Personnel in the following categories are considered eligible:
- APPEL course participants
- ARC college student program participants
- TDY visitors to NASA or other federal agencies on official orders
- Visiting university faculty, post-doctoral students (to NASA only)
- Visitors to ARC or other federal agency on-site contractors to conduct NASA or resident agency related business
- Active duty or reserve-on-active-duty military with orders
- ARC employees conducting business facilitated by overnight accommodation (e.g. ongoing experiment, major conference)
- ARC employees for their personal convenience
- NASA and military service retirees
- Accompanying family members of the above
- NRP Tenants and their guests (foreign nationals must be cleared through security prior to NRP and lodge access)
Making A Reservation
Please contact the front desk for all inquiries.
Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:00pm
Phone: (650) 604-8100
Email: info@nasalodge.com
Check-In: 3:00 PM (Contactless check-in is available after business hours.)
Check-Out: 11:00 AM
All reservations require an email address and a cell phone number. Credit card information is required prior to check-in by calling the front desk. Cancellations or changes must be done at least 24 hours prior to check-in via email at info@nasalodge.com or calling the front desk at (650) 604-8100. If you fail to cancel your reservation, you will be charged for one night’s stay.
Building 19 Premium King Room
- 24 Remodeled Modern Rooms
- Luxurious Restroom with Walk-in Shower & Towel Warmers
- Central A/C & Heating
- Spacious Closet Space
- Work Desk Space
- Mini Refrigerator with Freezer
- Flat Screen TV with Full DirecTV Access Including HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Etc.
- In-Room Safe
- Complimentary Coffee & Bottled Water
- Iron & Ironing Board
- Robust Power Outlets USB-A & USB-C
- Dimmable Lighting
- Keyless RFID Entry
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Free Parking
- Complimentary Breakfast
Building 19- Standard Queen Room
- 20 Remodeled Queen Rooms
- A/C Window Unit
- Heater Unit
- Work Desk Space
- Private Bathroom
- Mini Refrigerator with freezer
- Flatscreen TV
- In-Room Safe
- Iron & Iron Board
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Free Parking
- Complimentary Breakfast
Buildings 583 A & B Dorms
- Queen & Twin Size Bed Options
- Work Desk Space
- Private Restroom
- Microwave
- Refrigerator with Freezer (Size varies)
- Access Communal Kitchen
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Flatscreen TV Available in Select Rooms
Silicon Valley Event Center – Parking Information
At the main Event Center in building 3, at the front of the building (East side) there is a large lot with standard and accessible spaces. This is the best place to park as it affords the easiest access to the entry doors, which have an ADA accessible ramp. At the rear of the building, there is a secondary large over-flow lot. As this is on the back side of the building, you will need to walk all the way around to enter through the main entrance, or make arrangements to enter through the ADA accessible doors at the rear of the building.
Inside the NASA security fence, at building N232 and the N201 Syverston Auditorium, there is very little parking available and it is first-come first-serve. We highly recommend walking or carpooling to these locations if you are attending an event in either of them
Please keep in mind that if you are driving in, the driver will need a valid, RealID, drivers license. In addition, everyone in the car must have a valid form of ID; Government issued RealID, valid passport, or other form of accepted identification.
Back to the SVEC HomeAmes Exchange Lodging Info
If you’re visiting Ames for an extended period, you’ll need lodging that’s in the area, and affordable. This article will go over the lodging options that we have on-center.
Who May Stay?
Personnel in the following categories are considered eligible:
- APPEL course participants
- ARC college student program participants
- TDY visitors to NASA or other federal agencies on official orders
- Visiting university faculty, post-doctoral students (to NASA only)
- Visitors to ARC or other federal agency on-site contractors to conduct NASA or resident agency related business
- Active duty or reserve-on-active-duty military with orders
- ARC employees conducting business facilitated by overnight accommodation (e.g. ongoing experiment, major conference)
- ARC employees for their personal convenience
- NASA and military service retirees
- Accompanying family members of the above
- NRP Tenants and their guests (foreign nationals must be cleared through security prior to NRP and lodge access)
Making A Reservation
Please contact the front desk for all inquiries.
Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:00pm
Phone: (650) 604-8100
Email: info@nasalodge.com
Check-In: 3:00 PM (Contactless check-in is available after business hours.)
Check-Out: 11:00 AM
All reservations require an email address and a cell phone number. Credit card information is required prior to check-in by calling the front desk. Cancellations or changes must be done at least 24 hours prior to check-in via email at info@nasalodge.com or calling the front desk at (650) 604-8100. If you fail to cancel your reservation, you will be charged for one night’s stay.
Building 19 Premium King Room
- 24 Remodeled Modern Rooms
- Luxurious Restroom with Walk-in Shower & Towel Warmers
- Central A/C & Heating
- Spacious Closet Space
- Work Desk Space
- Mini Refrigerator with Freezer
- Flat Screen TV with Full DirecTV Access Including HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Etc.
- In-Room Safe
- Complimentary Coffee & Bottled Water
- Iron & Ironing Board
- Robust Power Outlets USB-A & USB-C
- Dimmable Lighting
- Keyless RFID Entry
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Free Parking
- Complimentary Breakfast
Building 19- Standard Queen Room
- 20 Remodeled Queen Rooms
- A/C Window Unit
- Heater Unit
- Work Desk Space
- Private Bathroom
- Mini Refrigerator with freezer
- Flatscreen TV
- In-Room Safe
- Iron & Iron Board
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Free Parking
- Complimentary Breakfast
Buildings 583 A & B Dorms
- Queen & Twin Size Bed Options
- Work Desk Space
- Private Restroom
- Microwave
- Refrigerator with Freezer (Size varies)
- Access Communal Kitchen
- NASA-Connect Accessible
- Flatscreen TV Available in Select Rooms
Silicon Valley Event Center – Parking Information
At the main Event Center in building 3, at the front of the building (East side) there is a large lot with standard and accessible spaces. This is the best place to park as it affords the easiest access to the entry doors, which have an ADA accessible ramp. At the rear of the building, there is a secondary large over-flow lot. As this is on the back side of the building, you will need to walk all the way around to enter through the main entrance, or make arrangements to enter through the ADA accessible doors at the rear of the building.
Inside the NASA security fence, at building N232 and the N201 Syverston Auditorium, there is very little parking available and it is first-come first-serve. We highly recommend walking or carpooling to these locations if you are attending an event in either of them
Please keep in mind that if you are driving in, the driver will need a valid, RealID, drivers license. In addition, everyone in the car must have a valid form of ID; Government issued RealID, valid passport, or other form of accepted identification.
Back to the SVEC HomeNASA Silicon Valley Event Center – Calendar of Events
Visiting the NASA Silicon Valley Event Center
Due to the nature of being a NASA facility, there are some special considerations that must be taken into account.
Traveling To & From
The Event Center is located on the publicly accessible side of the Ames campus. If you plan to arrive via ride share, please be aware that the vehicle and driver must have a valid RealID Drivers License and vehicle registration documents. All passengers will need valid ID as well.
U.S. Citizens must show a valid, officially-issued RealID at the NASA Research Park gate to enter onto the NASA Research Park, where the SVEC is located.
All Foreign Nationals must go through NASA badging procedures to attend meetings at the SVEC.
NASA Transfer Technology and Export Control
If you are having NASA speakers and Non-NASA attendees, your speakers must clear the information with the “NASA” Export Control Office.
NASA Silicon Valley Event Center – Calendar of Events
Visiting the NASA Silicon Valley Event Center
Due to the nature of being a NASA facility, there are some special considerations that must be taken into account.
Traveling To & From
The Event Center is located on the publicly accessible side of the Ames campus. If you plan to arrive via ride share, please be aware that the vehicle and driver must have a valid RealID Drivers License and vehicle registration documents. All passengers will need valid ID as well.
U.S. Citizens must show a valid, officially-issued RealID at the NASA Research Park gate to enter onto the NASA Research Park, where the SVEC is located.
All Foreign Nationals must go through NASA badging procedures to attend meetings at the SVEC.
NASA Transfer Technology and Export Control
If you are having NASA speakers and Non-NASA attendees, your speakers must clear the information with the “NASA” Export Control Office.
NASA Selects Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contractor
NASA has selected Barrios Technology, LLC, in Houston to provide technical integration services for the agency’s human spaceflight programs.
The Mission Technical Integration Contract is a cost-plus-award-fee and cost-plus-incentive fee contract with core and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements. It has a total estimated value of approximately $450 million, and a period of performance beginning Oct. 1, and ending on Sept. 30, 2027, along with four one-year option periods through 2031.
Under the contract, the contractor will provide technical integration and related services for multiple human spaceflight programs. These services include program, business, configuration and data management, information technology, systems engineering and integration, mission integration, safety and mission assurance, and operations.
For information about the agency and its programs, visit:
-end-
Tiernan Doyle
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
NASA Selects Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contractor
NASA has selected Barrios Technology, LLC, in Houston to provide technical integration services for the agency’s human spaceflight programs.
The Mission Technical Integration Contract is a cost-plus-award-fee and cost-plus-incentive fee contract with core and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements. It has a total estimated value of approximately $450 million, and a period of performance beginning Oct. 1, and ending on Sept. 30, 2027, along with four one-year option periods through 2031.
Under the contract, the contractor will provide technical integration and related services for multiple human spaceflight programs. These services include program, business, configuration and data management, information technology, systems engineering and integration, mission integration, safety and mission assurance, and operations.
For information about the agency and its programs, visit:
-end-
Tiernan Doyle
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards
- Curiosity Home
- Science
- News and Features
- Multimedia
- Mars Missions
- Mars Home
3 min read
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image showing the boxwork hollow where it is investigating, and the boxwork ridge on the far side of the hollow, using its Left Navigation Camera. Curiosity captured the image on July 20, 2025 — Sol 4605, or Martian day 4,605 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 18:51:55 UTC.NASA/JPL-CaltechWritten by Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, Planetary Geologist at University of New Brunswick
Earth planning date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
For today’s planning, we were in the same workspace as the Monday plan — on purpose! We don’t often have a plan without a drive but in order to allow the battery to recover from some power-hungry SAM atmospheric measurements over the weekend and on Monday, we needed to stay put and skip our usual drive. As a result, we gained a bonus planning cycle at this interesting workspace.
We are in one of the “hollows” between the resistant ridges of the “boxwork” terrain, as you can see in the image for this blog. This made for a quieter Operations day for me as the APXS planner. As Deborah noted in Monday’s blog, we have already gotten three APXS and MAHLI measurements in this workspace, so we didn’t acquire more in this plan.
This morning, we focused on documenting some small light-toned, rounded, white pebbles in the workspace (you can see them in the accompanying Navcam image), which look very different from the underlying bedrock. We used our one ChemCam LIBS analysis for the plan on “Yana Qaqa.” Mastcam will image this pebble, another at “Ojos del Salado,” and a really cool-looking target with a dendritic-looking texture at “Punta de Lobos.”
Further afield, Mastcam will image the adjacent boxwork ridge and hollow in our drive direction, and a series of troughs with raised edges to the right of our current workspace. ChemCam will image a long-distance RMI mosaic of “Cueva de los Vencejos y Murciélagos,” which was imaged by Mastcam on Monday, and also acquire some further images of the “Mishe Mokwa” hill.
We had a bumper couple of sols of atmospheric measurements over the weekend and Monday. Now we revert back to our more normal environmental and atmospheric monitoring. These do not get as much attention sometimes as the amazing images we take of the fascinating rocks we see, but have been taking place consistently and continuously since Curiosity’s landing almost 13 years ago now. This plan includes a series of Navcam movies (suprahorizon, dust devil) and a line-of-sight observation of dust, standard REMS and DAN observations, and two Mastcam tau measurements, looking at dust in the atmosphere.
Our 24-meter drive (almost 79 feet) will take us out of this hollow and back up on top of a ridge. From here, we hope to be able to spy the best driving path through the boxwork. The ridges are up to 5 meters in diameter (about 16 feet), so we are cautiously hopeful that we can just trundle along one of the ridges as we investigate this fascinating terrain.
For more Curiosity blog posts, visit MSL Mission Updates Learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments Share Details Last Updated Jul 28, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 2 min read Feeling the Heat: Perseverance Looks for Evidence of Contact Metamorphism Article 6 days ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4607-4608: Deep Dip Article 6 days ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4604-4606: Taking a Deep Breath of Martian Air Article 6 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA MarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited…
All Mars ResourcesExplore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,…
Rover BasicsEach robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a…
Mars Exploration: Science GoalsThe key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four…
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards
- Curiosity Home
- Science
- News and Features
- Multimedia
- Mars Missions
- Mars Home
3 min read
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4609–4610: Recharged and Ready To Roll Onwards NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image showing the boxwork hollow where it is investigating, and the boxwork ridge on the far side of the hollow, using its Left Navigation Camera. Curiosity captured the image on July 20, 2025 — Sol 4605, or Martian day 4,605 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 18:51:55 UTC.NASA/JPL-CaltechWritten by Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, Planetary Geologist at University of New Brunswick
Earth planning date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
For today’s planning, we were in the same workspace as the Monday plan — on purpose! We don’t often have a plan without a drive but in order to allow the battery to recover from some power-hungry SAM atmospheric measurements over the weekend and on Monday, we needed to stay put and skip our usual drive. As a result, we gained a bonus planning cycle at this interesting workspace.
We are in one of the “hollows” between the resistant ridges of the “boxwork” terrain, as you can see in the image for this blog. This made for a quieter Operations day for me as the APXS planner. As Deborah noted in Monday’s blog, we have already gotten three APXS and MAHLI measurements in this workspace, so we didn’t acquire more in this plan.
This morning, we focused on documenting some small light-toned, rounded, white pebbles in the workspace (you can see them in the accompanying Navcam image), which look very different from the underlying bedrock. We used our one ChemCam LIBS analysis for the plan on “Yana Qaqa.” Mastcam will image this pebble, another at “Ojos del Salado,” and a really cool-looking target with a dendritic-looking texture at “Punta de Lobos.”
Further afield, Mastcam will image the adjacent boxwork ridge and hollow in our drive direction, and a series of troughs with raised edges to the right of our current workspace. ChemCam will image a long-distance RMI mosaic of “Cueva de los Vencejos y Murciélagos,” which was imaged by Mastcam on Monday, and also acquire some further images of the “Mishe Mokwa” hill.
We had a bumper couple of sols of atmospheric measurements over the weekend and Monday. Now we revert back to our more normal environmental and atmospheric monitoring. These do not get as much attention sometimes as the amazing images we take of the fascinating rocks we see, but have been taking place consistently and continuously since Curiosity’s landing almost 13 years ago now. This plan includes a series of Navcam movies (suprahorizon, dust devil) and a line-of-sight observation of dust, standard REMS and DAN observations, and two Mastcam tau measurements, looking at dust in the atmosphere.
Our 24-meter drive (almost 79 feet) will take us out of this hollow and back up on top of a ridge. From here, we hope to be able to spy the best driving path through the boxwork. The ridges are up to 5 meters in diameter (about 16 feet), so we are cautiously hopeful that we can just trundle along one of the ridges as we investigate this fascinating terrain.
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2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge
On October 4–5, 2025, NASA—along with 14 international space agency partners—invites scientists, engineers, coders, designers, storytellers, and space enthusiasts of all kinds to take part in the 2025 NASA International Space Apps Challenge. This two-day global hackathon brings together diverse teams to tackle real-world problems using NASA’s open data, alongside space-based data from agencies around the world.
This year’s theme, Learn, Launch, Lead, encourages participants to:
- Learn new skills and deepen their understanding of STEM,
- Launch bold ideas by transforming open data into actionable solutions, and
- Lead communities in pioneering innovation and discovery.
Participants will collaborate to develop creative, open-source projects that address Earth and space-related challenges. Whether you’re a seasoned developer, an aspiring student, or a creative thinker, there’s a place for you in this global movement.
Together, we’ll use the power of open data and global collaboration to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges—on Earth and beyond.
OSDR Chats with Begum Mathyk
Welcome to “OSDR Chats,” an interview series featuring authors of publications that were enabled by the Open Science Data Repository (OSDR). Researchers share highlights and insights into their work, emphasizing the valuable roles played by the OSDR in their research. This newest interview features Dr Begum Mathyk who discusses her paper “Spaceflight induces changes in gene expression profiles linked to insulin and estrogen“, one of 45 that were part of the Nature Press package publications.
Organismal adaptations to spaceflight have been characterized at the molecular level in model organisms, including Drosophila and C. elegans. This study extends such molecular work to energy metabolism and sex hormone signaling in mice and humans. The findings of this research underscore the critical importance of in-depth hormonal studies on the effects of space travel, which are vital for enabling further human exploration of space. The study also emphasizes the need for further research focused on women’s health and the development of tailored healthcare strategies for space environments.
OSDR recently spoke to Dr Mathyk to hear about the highlights of this publication and about how the OSDR and Analysis Working Groups (AWGs) enabled this publication.
Link to Publication; Link to Datasets: OSD-48, OSD-98, OSD-99, OSD-100, OSD-101, OSD-102, OSD-103, OSD-104, OSD-105, OSD-168, OSD-238, OSD-239, OSD-240, OSD-241, OSD-254, OSD-530; Learn more about Analysis Working Groups (AWGs); Request to Join Analysis Working Groups (AWGs)
