NASA's Curiosity rover encountered an unprecedented challenge on Mars when a rock became lodged in its robotic arm during a sampling mission on August 25. The rover, which landed on Mars on August 5, 2012, was attempting to collect a sample from a rock nicknamed Atacama, weighing approximately 28.6 pounds, when the entire rock broke free and became suspended. Images captured by Curiosity's hazard and navigation cameras documented the rover's struggle. After initial attempts involving vibrations proved unsuccessful, the mission team employed a series of maneuvers on May 1, including reorienting, vibrating, and spinning the drill. This complex process, which the team anticipated would take multiple attempts, ultimately dislodged the rock during the first round of maneuvers, though it fractured upon hitting the ground.