![]() ![]() MEP developed the Mars 2020 Rover Mission to determine whether life may have left telltale signatures in the rocks on Mars’s surface, a further shift to the current science theme “Seek the Signs of Life”.įinding fossils preserved from early Mars might tell us that life once flourished on this planet. After establishing that Mars once had significant amount of water on its surface, the Mars Science Laboratory (which includes the Curiosity rover) was sent to Mars to determine whether Mars had the right ingredients in the rocks to host life, signaling a shift to the next theme of “Explore Habitability”. The Pathfinder Mission and Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) were sent to Mars to “Follow the Water,” recognizing that liquid water is necessary for life to exist on Earth. The field of Astrobiology saw a resurgence due to the controversy surrounding the possible fossil life in the ALH84001 meteorite, and from the outsized public response to this announcement, and subsequent interest from Congress and the White House, NASA’s Astrobiology Program was formed.Īlso at this time, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program began to investigate Mars with an increasing focus on missions to the Red Planet. The twin Viking landers of 1976 were NASA’s first life detection mission, and although the results from the experiments failed to detect life in the Martian regolith, and resulted in a long period with fewer Mars missions, it was not the end of the fascination that the Astrobiology science community had for the red planet. However, the exploration of Mars has been intertwined with NASA’s search for life from the beginning. ![]() NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took this self-portrait on May 11, 2016, at the "Okoruso" drilling site on the "Naukluft Plateau" in the foothills of Mount Sharp.Astrobiology is a relatively new field of study, where scientists from a variety of disciplines (astronomy, biology, geology, physics, etc.) work together to understand the potential for life to exist beyond Earth. Related: A brief history of Mars missions ![]() Here we celebrate 10 years of Curiosity by taking a look at some of Curiosity's best images of Mars. For the latest news about the mission, follow 's Curiosity Mars Rover coverage.Ĭuriosity has faced myriad challenges during its time on Mars, from computer glitches to drill malfunctions, orientation trouble and extensive damage to its wheels, but the robust rover keeps bouncing back and continues to investigate the Martian environment to this day. During its travels, Curiosity has unearthed extensive evidence of past water and geological change as well as shifts in climate. If you want to see where the rover is right now, check out NASA's where is the rover feature. This landing technique was a roaring success that NASA repeated in February 2021 when the Perseverance rover arrived on Mars.įor a decade, Curiosity has journeyed across the Red Planet, from Gale Crater to Aeolis Mons. 5, 2012. Since then, Curiosity has trundled across the Martian landscape searching for signs of life and learning about Mars' unique environment.Ĭuriosity's trailblazing landing saw the spacecraft descend on a parachute before its landing system fired up its rockets to hover as the rover was lowered down to the surface using the sky crane. 26, 2011, landing on Mars eight months and 10 days later, on Aug. NASA's Curiosity rover launched aboard an Atlas V rocket on Nov. ![]()
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