NASA's Curiosity rover has wrapped up an intensive monthslong investigation of a geological feature on Mars known as 'boxwork terrain,' according to a mission blog post published by NASA on March 20, 2026. The update was authored by Deborah Padgett, MSL Operations Product Ground System Task Lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The blog post, covering mission sols 4838 through 4844, describes what Padgett characterized as 'a very intense week of science observations and engineering activities' as the rover concluded its study of the area. Three days of planning were conducted during the reporting period.

Boxwork terrain refers to a network of intersecting ridges that form box-like or honeycomb patterns on the Martian surface. Scientists study such formations to better understand the geological and potentially hydrological history of Mars, as similar structures on Earth are often associated with mineral-rich fluids moving through rock fractures over long periods of time.

Curiosity, which has been operating on Mars since its landing in Gale Crater in August 2012, continues to conduct science operations well beyond its original two-year primary mission. The rover is currently exploring the slopes of Mount Sharp, a central peak within Gale Crater.

Full details of the specific instruments used and scientific findings from the boxwork terrain investigation were not disclosed in the blog summary. Additional results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed scientific literature following analysis by the mission science team.

The original blog post can be found at: https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4838-4844-wrapping-up-the-boxwork-terrain/

Note: This article is based on a mission operations blog post, which is an informal update and not a peer-reviewed scientific publication. Specific scientific conclusions from this investigation have not yet been independently verified through formal publication.