“Strange and Unexpected” – NASA’s Curiosity Rover Stumbles Upon Yellow Crystals on Mars
Among several recent findings, the rover has found rocks made of pure sulfur — a first on the Red Planet. NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover recently…
Curiosity Rover News
The Curiousity Rover is a car-sized robotic explorer that was launched by NASA as part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission in November 2011 and successfully landed on Mars in August 2012. Its primary goal is to investigate Mars’ climate and geology and assess whether there have ever been environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. Equipped with a sophisticated array of scientific instruments, Curiosity has the capability to scoop up soil, drill into rocks, analyze samples, and photograph its surroundings. Among its many achievements, the rover has found evidence of ancient water flows, discovered complex organic molecules, and provided invaluable data about the Martian atmosphere and radiation. Curiosity continues to explore the Gale Crater on Mars, significantly contributing to our understanding of the Red Planet’s history and potential to support life.
Subarctic Secrets: Mars’ Cold and Icy Past Revealed in New Research
A new study finds critical clues lurking in the Red Planet’s soil. Recent research comparing soils from Earth and Mars suggests Mars’ historical climate was…
NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Faces a Particularly Prickly Power Puzzle
After successfully drilling at “Mammoth Lakes 2,” the Curiosity mission team strategized power use for Mars research, integrating environmental observations and remote sensing into the…
Dusty Dilemmas: NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Navigates Rocky Riddles
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover’s planned scientific activities were adapted due to a mundane workspace and positional limitations, allowing for earlier data analysis and continued significant…
NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Reached the South Side of Pinnacle Ridge… What’s Next?
The Curiosity team successfully navigated a complex terrain to position the rover on the south side of Pinnacle Ridge, facing a decision to either explore…
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Unearths Mars’ Ancient Water Secrets
The rover has arrived at an area that may show evidence liquid water flowed on this part of Mars for much longer than previously thought….
Unlocking the Secrets of Mars: Atmospheric Pressure and the Mystery of Methane Pulses
Simulations will help Curiosity search for signs of past or present life on the Red Planet. New research shows that atmospheric pressure fluctuations that pull…
Shadow Play: NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Captures a Martian Day, From Dawn to Dusk
Videos from the rover show its shadow moving across the Martian surface during a 12-hour sequence while Curiosity remained parked. When NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover…
Sun’s Curtain Call: Mars Missions Go Rogue During Solar Conjunction
Rovers and orbiters will continue collecting limited data during a two-week communications pause due to the position of Earth, the Sun, and the Red Planet….
Historic Martian Milestone: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Clocks 4,000 Days on Mars
The Curiosity mission team is making sure the robotic scientist, now in its fourth extended mission, is staying strong, despite the wear and tear from…
Curiosity’s New Discovery: Ancient Riverbeds on Mars and the Potential for Life
Curiosity rover findings indicate numerous craters on Mars may have once been flowing rivers, hinting at possible ancient life conditions. New analysis of data from…
3-Billion-Year-Old Secrets: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Reaches Mars Ridge Where Water Left Debris Pileup
Believed to be a remnant of powerful ancient debris flows, Gediz Vallis Ridge is a destination long sought by the rover’s science team. Three billion…
Mars’ Muddy Mystery: Did the Red Planet Once Have Seasonal Weather?
NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover finds evidence of high-frequency wet-dry cycling in the Gale Crater. New observations of mud cracks made by NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover…
Bold Ascent: NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover Tackles Its Toughest Climb Yet
Shortly before the rover’s 11th anniversary on the Red Planet, Curiosity’s team helped guide it up a steep, slippery slope to examine meteor craters. On…
NASA Curiosity Rover’s Scientific Stopover in Mars’ Jau Crater Cluster
NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover continues its exploration of the Jau crater cluster. The rover’s instruments are actively studying a rock named ‘Mamore,’ while also imaging…
Mars in a Day: NASA’s Curiosity Captures Martian Morning and Afternoon in Single “Postcard”
Lighting from two times of day was combined for a stunning view of the terrain that the rover is leaving behind. After completing a major…
Lost in Space? Why – and How – NASA Gives a Name to Every Spot It Studies on Mars
Martian maps are full of monikers recognizing places on Earth, explorers, and even cartoon characters. NASA’s Perseverance rover is currently investigating rock outcrops alongside the…
A “Novel” Discovery: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds a Book-Like Rock on Mars
On its 3,800th sol, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover photographed a book-like rock, “Terra Firme,” a result of water depositing harder minerals and wind erosion shaping…