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  1. 27 Oct 2019

    Mars continues to surprise us. While digging this weekend the mole backed about halfway out of the ground. Preliminary assessment points to unexpected soil properties as the main reason. Team looking at next steps.

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  2. 14 Jan 2021

    One phase ends, and another begins… Last weekend, the mole made a final attempt to dig farther underground on Mars. Even with all the steps we’ve taken to , it seems there’s just not enough friction in this soil to keep it moving downward. (1/4)

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  3. 3 Jun 2020

    After several assists from my robotic arm, the mole appears to be underground. It’s been a real challenge troubleshooting from millions of miles away. We still need to see if the mole can dig on its own. More from our partners:

  4. 21 Oct 2019

    The mole is digging deeper into thanks to the tremendous efforts by my team. Unofficial depth is ~38 cm down in the ground, almost the length of the mole (40 cm). This may be the last time we see the mole, more drilling later this week.

  5. 10 Aug 2020

    I’ve used my scoop to help fill in the pit around my robotic mole. This, combined with another push on the soil from above, may help give the mole the boost it needs to keep making progress. Step by step. More from our partners:

  6. 13 Mar 2020

    A bit of good news from : our new approach of using the robotic arm to push the mole appears to be working! The teams / are excited to see the images and plan to continue this approach over the next few weeks. 💪 FAQ:

  7. 31 Oct 2019

    Encouraging news: after my latest small arm moves, the mole looks to still be stable in the ground. Now I can move my arm again to get some more detailed images of the situation.

  8. 29 Sep 2020

    More hammering has put the top of the mole under the surface. Time to pivot to a new approach: less direct contact with the mole, more scooping/filling/pressing down on the soil. More to come as and work to .

  9. 29 Oct 2019

    Pulling more puzzle pieces together.🧩 This week, my team continues to work the mole status. I’m moving my arm a tiny bit while taking a series of before-and after images. This should help inform our next move.

  10. 16 Oct 2020

    With the mole just under the surface, I held up my camera for a better look at the work area. Up next: I’ll scrape some extra soil on top, and press down again to give it another assist. Read more about what and are doing to :

  11. 13 Mar 2020
  12. 17 Oct 2019

    ICYMI: The mole is on the move. This video recaps our latest heat probe recovery efforts. We still have a long way to go.🤞 Read story:

  13. 28 Aug 2020

    Another short test has my self-hammering mole making gradual progress. Pressing down on the soil above has helped it dig a little further. We’ll do another of these moves soon, with and keeping a close eye.

  14. 21 Nov 2019

    My mole is on the move again and back to digging. Using my arm to put pressure on the mole from the side has helped it move down ~1.25 inches (~32 millimeters). My & team’s efforts to continue.

  15. 26 May 2020

    Summary of Arm and Mole, sols 427 - 530. Six Back Cap Preloads and Five Hammerings (so far!)

  16. 8 Dec 2019

    Yay! 's mission to continues. Here are the raw images from yesterday (lighter) and today (darker) after another short hammering session... We're on the way down again!

  17. 14 Apr 2020

    My team at & continues to take encouragement from our latest efforts to . Another push with my robotic arm has helped the mole keep pushing onward. Taking it one step at a time, and reaching out to help where I can.

  18. 21 Feb 2020

    My robotic mole has had a hard time getting underground, so I’m going to try something we never thought we’d do: giving it a push with my robotic arm while it hammers. This will take several weeks, as the / team works to . More:

  19. 20 Jun 2020

    Some thoughts on the mole... and my own anxiety.

  20. 23 Mar 2020

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