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  2. Mars
  3. Curiosity
Active

Curiosity

A car-sized rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars since 2012, investigating climate and geology to determine if Mars could have supported microbial life.

Launch Date

Nov 26, 2011

254 day transit

Landing Date

Aug 6, 2012

4,982 days on Mars

Total Photos

695,670

7 cameras

Max Sol

4,400

Martian days

Status

Operational

Transmitting data

Curiosity Mission Overview

Curiosity is a car-sized rover that landed inside Gale Crater on August 6, 2012 using an innovative sky-crane descent system. Its primary mission is to investigate whether Mars ever had environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. Equipped with 17 cameras and a suite of advanced instruments including the ChemCam laser spectrometer and the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) chemistry lab, Curiosity has made groundbreaking discoveries. It confirmed that Gale Crater once held a lake of liquid water for millions of years, found organic molecules in Martian rocks, and detected seasonal methane fluctuations in the atmosphere. As of 2025, Curiosity continues to climb Mount Sharp, studying layered rock formations that chronicle billions of years of Martian environmental change.

Mission Timeline

Launch

November 26, 2011

Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida

Mars Landing

August 6, 2012

After 254 days in transit

Currently Operating

Sol 4,400+

4,982 days and counting

Cameras (7)

FHAZ

Front Hazard Avoidance Camera

RHAZ

Rear Hazard Avoidance Camera

MAST

Mast Camera

CHEMCAM

Chemistry and Camera Complex

MAHLI

Mars Hand Lens Imager

MARDI

Mars Descent Imager

NAVCAM

Navigation Camera

Recent Sols

Latest Martian days with available photos.

No recent photos available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Curiosity

Where is Curiosity rover right now?
Curiosity is exploring Gale Crater on Mars, specifically climbing the slopes of Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons), a 5.5-kilometer-tall mountain in the center of the crater. Since landing in August 2012, the rover has traveled over 32 kilometers, studying layered rock formations that reveal billions of years of Martian environmental history. Curiosity communicates with Earth via relay satellites orbiting Mars, and its nuclear power source (a radioisotope thermoelectric generator) provides it with reliable energy regardless of dust or darkness.
What has Curiosity discovered on Mars?
Curiosity has made several groundbreaking discoveries. It confirmed that Gale Crater once held a lake of liquid water that persisted for millions of years, with conditions suitable for microbial life. The rover found organic molecules in ancient Martian rocks, detected seasonal methane fluctuations in the atmosphere (a potential biosignature), and measured radiation levels critical for planning future human missions. Its drill samples revealed clay minerals and sulfate salts that indicate the lake water was neither too acidic nor too alkaline to support life.
How long will Curiosity last on Mars?
Curiosity is powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) that converts heat from the radioactive decay of plutonium-238 into electricity. This power source has a design life of at least 14 years and degrades slowly -- losing about 4% of its output every four years. As of 2025, Curiosity has been operating for over 12 years, and while its power output has decreased, it still has sufficient energy to continue operating well into the late 2020s. The rover's mechanical components, especially its wheels, show significant wear but remain functional.

Related Pages

Perseverance Rover

Currently active

Opportunity Rover

Mission complete

Spirit Rover

Mission complete

Mars Weather

Temperature, pressure & wind data

Mars Hub

All rovers, photos & mission data

Mars Planet Profile

Physical data, orbit & moons