NASA’s Curiosity rover has uncovered intriguing geological formations on Mars resembling giant “spiderwebs,” suggesting the presence of groundwater on the Red Planet more recently than previously thought.
The rover has been exploring a region characterized by boxwork – low ridges standing roughly 3 to 6 feet tall with sandy hollows in between. These formations crisscross the Martian surface for miles, according to the space agency. The discovery offers recent clues about the planet’s potential to have once supported microbial life, a key focus of ongoing Martian exploration.
The findings were announced on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and represent a significant development in understanding Mars’s geological history. The presence of these features indicates that groundwater flowed through this area later in Mars’s history than scientists initially believed.
Meanwhile, NASA is preparing for a news conference on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC) with agency leadership to discuss the Artemis II mission and the broader Artemis campaign. This follows the successful rollback of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Artemis II mission has faced recent challenges, including a detected problem with the flow of helium, used to pressurize fuel tanks and clean propellant lines, in the upper part of the SLS rocket. The rocket is being rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for servicing, effectively postponing a potential March launch. NASA is now targeting no earlier than April for the launch, according to CNN. The Artemis program represents a major step towards returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable lunar presence.
NASA continues to maintain a strong public presence through various media operations, including NASA TV, the Astronomy Picture of the Day, and the NASA+ streaming service, as highlighted in Wikipedia. These initiatives contribute to spaceflight outreach both in the United States and internationally.
In other news, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts recently provided an update, and a study is underway to analyze fermented food samples from space. The ESCAPADE mission is similarly ready to study space weather from Earth to Mars, and NASA’s Webb telescope has been examining the Cranium Nebula. These diverse projects demonstrate the breadth of NASA’s ongoing scientific endeavors.
