The short version
- NASA field-tested DAVINCI mission instruments at Crater Island, a site chosen for its geological similarity to target regions on Venus.
- The rehearsal involved helicopter-suspended cameras capturing hundreds of images to create accurate three-dimensional maps of complex rock formations.
- The testing site sits within the basin of ancient Lake Bonneville, whose receding waters left behind salt flats and mineral deposits that have hosted engineering feats for decades.
In June 2026, NASA scientists and engineers conducted critical field tests at Crater Island in Utah, validating camera systems designed for the DAVINCI mission. This upcoming endeavor aims to send a probe into the dense atmosphere of Venus, where it will capture high-resolution imagery and measure atmospheric chemistry. The team selected this specific location because its geological features closely resemble Alpha Regio, a mountainous region on Venus that the mission intends to study in unprecedented detail.
During the rehearsal, the camera package was suspended from a helicopter as it descended toward the surface over a period of sixty minutes. The system captured hundreds of images targeting various rock formations, including units rich in iron and silica. By relying solely on the data acquired by these cameras, researchers generated three-dimensional maps of the area. These digital reconstructions proved consistent with existing geological surveys, providing the agency with confidence that similar mapping techniques will succeed on Venus.
The testing ground itself is part of a larger landscape shaped by ancient hydrological events. Crater Island lies within the basin of Lake Bonneville, a massive body of water that existed during the Ice Age. At its peak, this lake covered much of western Utah and parts of Nevada and Idaho, reaching a size comparable to Lake Michigan. The lake began forming approximately 55,000 years ago when volcanic activity in southeastern Idaho diverted the Bear River into southern basins.
For tens of thousands of years, a natural dam at Red Rock Pass confined the water. However, around 18,000 years ago, the structure failed, unleashing one of North America’s largest floods. Water breached the dam and entered the Columbia River system, causing lake levels to drop by more than 350 feet over just six weeks. As the climate subsequently warmed and dried, the lake shrank dramatically, leaving behind remnants such as Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, and Sevier Lake.
Satellite imagery from the NASA-USGS Landsat 8 mission reveals the enduring imprint of this ancient water body. Bathtub-like rings and wave-cut terraces trace former shorelines across the region. The dried lakebed appears pale in contrast to the darker, rockier surroundings, composed of fine-grained clay, marl, and sandy sediment that settled out of the water millennia ago.
In deeper parts of the basin where runoff and groundwater still pool, evaporite minerals coat the land surfaces. These deposits form salt flats through the gradual evaporation of water, which concentrates minerals into brines and hard crusts. Common components include halite and gypsum, along with potassium- and magnesium-bearing salts. The presence of potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer, has made these playas long-standing targets for mining operations, visible today as rectangular evaporation ponds.
The rugged terrain rising above the playas offers a stark contrast to the flat salt flats. Mountains such as the Silver Island, Newfoundland, and Pilot Range are built from erosion-resistant sedimentary and metasedimentary bedrock hundreds of millions of years old. These formations also contain younger igneous and metamorphic rocks created when magma intruded into ancient sedimentary sequences. Crater Island specifically features silica-rich sandstones and quartzites formed in shallow oceans, alongside intrusions of quartz monzonite and granite.
Beyond its geological significance for planetary science, the Bonneville basin has a history of human engineering and exploration. The flat, smooth surfaces have frequently served as venues for land speed records. In 1960, Mickey Thompson became the first American to exceed 400 miles per hour on these flats. More recently, in August 2026, Andy Green set a new record for the fastest land speed achieved by a hydrogen-fueled internal-combustion vehicle, highlighting the continued relevance of this unique landscape.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- NASA↗What Lake Bonneville Left Behind
