View source for Engineering:Curiosity (rover)

{{Short description|NASA robotic rover exploring Gale crater on Mars}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name          = ''Curiosity''
| mission       = [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]]
| image         = Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Big Sky' Drilling Site.jpg
| image_alt     = 
| caption       = {{Longitem|Self-portrait by ''Curiosity'' at the foot of [[Astronomy:Mount Sharp|Mount Sharp]] in October 2015}}

| type          = [[Astronomy:Mars rover|Mars rover]]
| owner         = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| manufacturer  = [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]

| dimensions    = {{Convert|2.9|x|2.7|x|2.2|m|abbr=on}}
| dry_mass      = {{Convert|899|kg}}
| communication = {{Unbulleted list|[[Physics:Ultra high frequency|UHF]]: ~400 [[Hertz|MHz]], 2 [[Data-rate units|Mbit/s]]|[[Physics:X band|X band]]: 7–8 GHz, 800 bit/s}}
| power         = [[Astronomy:Multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator|MMRTG]]: ~{{Convert|100|W|abbr=on}}
| rocket        = [[Engineering:Atlas V|Atlas V 541]]
| instruments   = {{Hlist|[[Astronomy:Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer|APXS]]|[[Chemistry:Chemistry and Camera complex|ChemCam]]|[[Engineering:CheMin|CheMin]]|[[Engineering:Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons|DAN]]|[[Engineering:Hazcam|Hazcam]] × 8|MAHLI|MARDI|MastCam|[[Engineering:Navcam|Navcam]] × 4|[[Astronomy:Radiation assessment detector|RAD]]|[[Engineering:Rover Environmental Monitoring Station|REMS]]|[[Astronomy:Sample Analysis at Mars|SAM]]}}

| launched      = {{Start-date|November 26, 2011, 15:02 UTC}}
| launched_from = Cape Canaveral SLC-41
| deployed      = {{Start-date|August 6, 2012, 05:17 UTC}}
| deployed_from = the [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory#Entry, descent and landing (EDL)|MSL EDLS]]
| location      = [[Astronomy:Gale (crater)|Gale crater]], [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]]
| travelled     = {{Convert|31.27|km|abbr=on}} on Mars {{as of|2024|1|27|lc=y}}<ref name="where-is-curiosity?">{{cite web|title=Where Is Curiosity?|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/where-is-the-rover|website=mars.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=December 29, 2023|ref=12}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| fate          =

|programme      = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] Mars rover
|previous       = ''[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]''
|next           = ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]''
}}

'''''Curiosity''''' is a [[Engineering:Car|car]]-sized [[Astronomy:Mars rover|Mars rover]] [[Astronomy:Space exploration|exploring]] [[Astronomy:Gale (crater)|Gale crater]] and [[Astronomy:Mount Sharp|Mount Sharp]] on [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] as part of [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]] (MSL) mission.<ref name="NASA-Curiosity"/> ''Curiosity'' was launched from Cape Canaveral (CCAFS) on November 26, 2011, at 15:02:00 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] and landed on [[Astronomy:Aeolis Palus|Aeolis Palus]] inside Gale crater on Mars on August 6, 2012, 05:17:57 UTC.<ref name="Abilleira2013"/><ref name="bbc20120808"/><ref name="youtube1"/> The [[Astronomy:Bradbury Landing|Bradbury Landing]] site was less than {{cvt|2.4|km}} from the center of the rover's touchdown target after a {{convert|560|e6km|e6mi|abbr=unit}} journey.<ref name="NASA-20120822"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Mission goals include an investigation of the Martian [[Astronomy:Climate of Mars|climate]] and [[Astronomy:Geology of Mars|geology]], assessment of whether the selected field site inside Gale has ever offered [[Environmental science|environmental conditions]] favorable for [[Astronomy:Life on Mars|microbial life]] (including investigation of the [[Astronomy:Water on Mars|role of water]]), and [[Astronomy:Planetary habitability|planetary habitability]] studies in preparation for [[Astronomy:Human mission to Mars|human exploration]].<ref name="overview"/><ref name="goals"/>

In December 2012, ''Curiosity''{{'s}} two-year mission was extended indefinitely,<ref name="3news.nz"/> and on August 5, 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the ''Curiosity'' rover landing.<ref name="NASA-20170802"/><ref name="SP-20170805"/> On August 6, 2022, a detailed overview of accomplishments by the ''Curiosity'' rover for the last ten years was reported.<ref name="NPR-20220806">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Ailsa |title=What a decade of Curiosity has taught us about life on Mars |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/08/06/1115919820/curiosity-rover-mars-nasa-space-science  |date=August 6, 2022 |work=NPR |accessdate=August 6, 2022 }}</ref> The rover is still operational, and as of {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}, ''Curiosity'' has been active on Mars for {{Curiosity Mission Timer}} [[Astronomy:Sol (day on Mars)|sols]] ({{age in days|2012|08|06}} total days; ''{{Age in years and days|August 6, 2012}}'') since its landing (see [[Organization:Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Current status|current status]]). 

The NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory/''Curiosity'' Project Team was awarded the 2012 Robert J. Collier Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association "In recognition of the extraordinary achievements of successfully landing ''Curiosity'' on Mars, advancing the nation's technological and engineering capabilities, and significantly improving humanity's understanding of ancient Martian habitable environments."<ref name="NAA-20130312"/> ''Curiosity''{{'s}} rover design serves as the basis for NASA's 2021 [[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|''Perseverance'' mission]], which carries different scientific instruments.

== Mission ==
{{Further|Organization:Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory}}

=== Goals and objectives ===
[[File:Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Animation.webm|thumb|upright=1.2|right|Animation of the ''Curiosity'' rover, showing its capabilities]]

As established by the [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Program|Mars Exploration Program]], the main scientific goals of the MSL mission are to help determine whether Mars could ever have supported [[Astronomy:Life on Mars|life]], as well as determining the [[Astronomy:Water on Mars|role of water]], and to study the [[Astronomy:Climate of Mars|climate]] and [[Astronomy:Geology of Mars|geology of Mars]].<ref name="overview"/><ref name="goals"/> The mission results will also help prepare for human exploration.<ref name="goals"/> To contribute to these goals, MSL has eight main scientific objectives:<ref name="nasa.obj"/>

;Biological:
<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>Determine the nature and inventory of [[Chemistry:Organic compound|organic carbon compounds]]</li>
<li>Investigate the chemical [[Astronomy:CHON|building blocks of life]] (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and [[Chemistry:Sulfur|sulfur]])</li>
<li>Identify features that may represent the effects of biological processes ([[Astronomy:Biosignature|biosignature]]s and [[Physics:Biomolecule|biomolecule]]s)</li>
</ol>

;Geological and geochemical:
<ol type="1" start="4">
<li>Investigate the chemical, [[Physics:Isotope|isotopic]], and mineralogical composition of the Martian surface and near-surface geological materials</li>
<li>Interpret the processes that have formed and modified rocks and soils</li>
</ol>

;Planetary process:
<ol type="1" start="6">
<li>Assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion-year) [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmospheric]] evolution processes</li>
<li>Determine present state, distribution, and [[Astronomy:Water on Mars|cycling of water]] and [[Chemistry:Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide]]</li>
</ol>

;Surface radiation:
<ol type="1" start="8">
<li>Characterize the broad spectrum of surface radiation, including [[Astronomy:Cosmic ray|galactic and cosmic radiation]], [[Astronomy:Solar particle event|solar proton event]]s and [[Physics:Neutron#High-energy neutrons|secondary neutrons]]. As part of its exploration, it also measured the radiation exposure in the interior of the spacecraft as it traveled to Mars, and it is continuing radiation measurements as it explores the surface of Mars. This data would be important for a future [[Astronomy:Human mission to Mars|crewed mission]].<ref name="double"/>
</li>
</ol>

About one year into the surface mission, and having assessed that ancient Mars could have been hospitable to microbial life, the MSL mission objectives evolved to developing predictive models for the preservation process of [[Chemistry:Organic compound|organic compound]]s and biomolecules; a branch of paleontology called [[Earth:Taphonomy|taphonomy]].<ref name="Science 01-24-2014"/> The region it is set to explore has been compared to the [[Earth:Four Corners|Four Corners]] region of the North American west.<ref name="nasa.pia16068"/>

=== Name ===
A [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] panel selected the name ''Curiosity'' following a nationwide student contest that attracted more than 9,000 proposals via the Internet and mail. A sixth-grade student from {{wipe|Kansas}}, 12-year-old Clara Ma from Sunflower Elementary School in Lenexa, Kansas, submitted the winning entry. As her prize, Ma won a trip to [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL) in Pasadena, California, where she signed her name directly onto the rover as it was being assembled.<ref name="NASA"/>

Ma wrote in her winning essay:
{{Blockquote|Curiosity is an everlasting flame that burns in everyone's mind. It makes me get out of bed in the morning and wonder what surprises life will throw at me that day. Curiosity is such a powerful force. Without it, we wouldn't be who we are today. Curiosity is the passion that drives us through our everyday lives. We have become explorers and scientists with our need to ask questions and to wonder.<ref name="NASA"/>}}

=== Cost ===
Adjusted for inflation, ''Curiosity'' has a life-cycle cost of US$3.2 billion in 2020 dollars. By comparison, the 2021 ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' rover has a life-cycle cost of US$2.9 billion.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Cost of Perseverance, in Context|url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/cost-of-perseverance-in-context|publisher=The Planetary Society|first=Casey|last=Dreier|date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>

== Rover and lander specifications ==
[[File:PIA15279 3rovers-stand D2011 1215 D521.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Two Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers stand with three vehicles, providing a size comparison of three generations of Mars rovers. Front and center left is the flight spare for the first Mars rover, ''Sojourner'', which landed on Mars in 1997 as part of the Mars Pathfinder Project. On the left is a Mars Exploration Rover (MER) test vehicle that is a working sibling to ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity'', which landed on Mars in 2004. On the right is a test rover for the Mars Science Laboratory, which landed as ''Curiosity'' on Mars in 2012.{{paragraph break}} ''Sojourner'' is {{cvt|65|cm}} long. The Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) are {{cvt|1.6|m}} long. ''Curiosity'' on the right is {{cvt|3|m}} long.]]

''Curiosity'' is {{cvt|2.9|m}} long by {{cvt|2.7|m}} wide by {{cvt|2.2|m}} in height,<ref name="cnes"/> larger than Mars Exploration Rovers, which are {{cvt|1.5|m}} long and have a mass of {{cvt|174|kg}} including {{cvt|6.8|kg}} of scientific instruments.<ref name="MSLUSAToday"/><ref name="Mars Rovers: Pathfinder, MER (Spirit and Opportunity), and MSL"/><ref name="Mars Exploration Rover Launches"/> In comparison to Pancam on the Mars Exploration Rovers, the MastCam-34 has 1.25× higher [[Angular resolution|spatial resolution]] and the MastCam-100 has 3.67× higher spatial resolution.<ref name="MastCamDescription"/>

''Curiosity'' has an advanced payload of scientific equipment on Mars.<ref name="facts"/> It is the fourth NASA robotic rover sent to Mars since 1996. Previous successful Mars rovers are ''[[Engineering:Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner]]'' from the [[Astronomy:Mars Pathfinder|Mars Pathfinder]] mission (1997), and ''[[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' (2004–2010) and ''[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' (2004–2018) rovers from the [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]] mission.

''Curiosity'' comprised 23% of the mass of the {{cvt|3893|kg}} spacecraft at launch. The remaining mass was discarded in the process of transport and landing.

* '''Dimensions''': ''Curiosity'' has a mass of {{cvt|899|kg}} including {{cvt|80|kg}} of scientific instruments.<ref name="MSLUSAToday"/> The rover is {{cvt|2.9|m}} long by {{cvt|2.7|m}} wide by {{cvt|2.2|m}} in height.<ref name="cnes"/>

The main box-like chassis forms the Warm Electronics Box (WEB).<ref name="DESCANSO"/>{{rp|52}}

{{multiple image| align = right| direction = vertical| width = 340
| image1 = Fueling of the MSL MMRTG 001.jpg
| caption1 = Radioisotope pellet within a graphite shell that fuels the generator
| image2 = MMRTG after fit check with Curiosity from angular above.jpg
| caption2 = Radioisotope Power System for ''Curiosity'' at Kennedy Space Center
}}

* '''Power source''': ''Curiosity'' is powered by a [[Physics:Radioisotope thermoelectric generator|radioisotope thermoelectric generator]] (RTG), like the successful ''[[Astronomy:Viking 1|Viking 1]]'' and ''[[Astronomy:Viking 2|Viking 2]]'' Mars landers in 1976.<ref name="MMRTG"/><ref name="MarsExplorationMMRTG"/>

:Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are generators that produce electricity from the decay of radioactive isotopes, such as [[Physics:Plutonium-238|plutonium-238]], which is a non-fissile isotope of plutonium. Heat given off by the decay of this isotope generates electrical power using [[Physics:Thermocouple|thermocouple]]s, providing consistent power during all seasons and through the day and night. [[Astronomy:Waste heat|Waste heat]] is also used via pipes to warm systems, freeing electrical power for the operation of the vehicle and instruments.<ref name="MMRTG"/><ref name="MarsExplorationMMRTG"/> ''Curiosity''{{'s}} RTG is fueled by {{cvt|4.8|kg}} of [[Chemistry:Plutonium(IV) oxide|plutonium-238 dioxide]] supplied by the U.S. Department of Energy.<ref name="sfnow20111117"/>

:''Curiosity'''s RTG is the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), designed and built by [[Company:Rocketdyne|Rocketdyne]] and [[Company:Teledyne Technologies|Teledyne Energy Systems]] under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy,<ref name="Ritz2004"/> and fueled and tested by the [[Organization:Idaho National Laboratory|Idaho National Laboratory]].<ref name="Idaho2011"/> Based on legacy RTG technology, it represents a more flexible and compact development step,<ref name="MSLPower"/> and is designed to produce 110 watts of electrical power and about 2,000 watts of thermal power at the start of the mission.<ref name="MMRTG"/><ref name="MarsExplorationMMRTG"/> The MMRTG produces less power over time as its plutonium fuel decays: at its minimum lifetime of 14 years, electrical power output is down to 100 watts.<ref name="Mars Science Laboratory – Technologies of Broad Benefit: Power"/><ref name="Overview of NASA Program on Development of Radioisotope Power Systems with High Specific Power"/> The power source generates {{cvt|9|MJ|kWh}} of electrical energy each day, much more than the solar panels of the now retired [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]]s, which generated about {{cvt|2.1|MJ|kWh}} each day. The electrical output from the MMRTG charges two rechargeable [[Engineering:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]]. This enables the power subsystem to meet peak power demands of rover activities when the demand temporarily exceeds the generator's steady output level. Each battery has a capacity of about 42 [[Ampere hour|ampere hour]]s.

* '''Heat rejection system''': The temperatures at the landing site vary seasonally and the thermal system warms the rover as needed. The thermal system does so in several ways: passively, through the dissipation to internal components; by electrical heaters strategically placed on key components; and by using the rover heat rejection system (HRS).<ref name="DESCANSO"/> It uses fluid pumped through {{cvt|60|m}} of tubing in the rover body so that sensitive components are kept at optimal temperatures.<ref name="HRS"/> The fluid loop serves the additional purpose of rejecting heat when the rover has become too warm, and it can also gather waste heat from the power source by pumping fluid through two heat exchangers that are mounted alongside the RTG. The HRS also has the ability to cool components if necessary.<ref name="HRS"/>
* '''Computers''': The two identical on-board rover computers, called Rover Compute Element (RCE) contain [[Engineering:Radiation hardening|radiation hardened]] memory to tolerate the extreme radiation from space and to safeguard against power-off cycles. The computers run the [[Software:VxWorks|VxWorks]] [[Real-time operating system|real-time operating system]] (RTOS). Each computer's memory includes 256 kilobytes (kB) of [[EEPROM]], 256 megabytes (MB) of [[Dynamic random-access memory|dynamic random-access memory]] (DRAM), and 2 gigabytes (GB) of [[Flash memory|flash memory]].<ref name="Brains"/> For comparison, the Mars Exploration Rovers used 3 MB of EEPROM, 128 MB of DRAM, and 256 MB of flash memory.<ref name="ieeecomputer"/>

:The RCE computers use the [[Astronomy:RAD750|RAD750]] [[Central processing unit]] (CPU), which is a successor to the [[Engineering:IBM RAD6000|RAD6000]] CPU of the Mars Exploration Rovers.<ref name="BAE Systems Computers"/><ref name="E&ISNow — Media gets closer look at Manassas"/> The IBM RAD750 CPU, a radiation-hardened version of the PowerPC 750, can execute up to 400 Million instructions per second (MIPS), while the RAD6000 CPU is capable of up to only 35 MIPS.<ref name="RAD750brochure"/><ref name="RAD6000brochure"/> Of the two on-board computers, one is configured as backup and will take over in the event of problems with the main computer.<ref name="Brains"/> On February 28, 2013, NASA was forced to switch to the backup computer due to a problem with the active computer's flash memory, which resulted in the computer continuously rebooting in a loop. The backup computer was turned on in [[Safe mode|safe mode]] and subsequently returned to active status on March 4, 2013.<ref name="NASA-20130304"/> The same problem happened in late March, resuming full operations on March 25, 2013.<ref name="NASA-20130325"/>

:The rover has an [[Engineering:Inertial measurement unit|inertial measurement unit]] (IMU) that provides 3-axis information on its position, which is used in rover navigation.<ref name="Brains"/> The rover's computers are constantly self-monitoring to keep the rover operational, such as by regulating the rover's temperature.<ref name="Brains"/> Activities such as taking pictures, driving, and operating the instruments are performed in a command sequence that is sent from the flight team to the rover.<ref name="Brains"/> The rover installed its full surface operations software after the landing because its computers did not have sufficient main memory available during flight. The new software essentially replaced the flight software.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

:The rover has four processors. One of them is a [[SPARC]] [[Engineering:Processor (computing)|processor]] that runs the rover's thrusters and descent-stage motors as it descended through the [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmosphere]]. Two others are [[PowerPC]] processors: the main processor, which handles nearly all of the rover's ground functions, and that processor's backup. The fourth one, another [[SPARC]] processor, commands the rover's movement and is part of its [[Engineering:Motor controller|motor controller]] box. All four processors are [[Single-core|single core]].<ref name="Gaudin"/>

[[File:PIA16106 - Curiosity speaks and orbiters listen.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|''Curiosity'' transmits to Earth directly or via three relay satellites in Mars orbit.]]

=== Communications ===
*'''Communications''': ''Curiosity'' is equipped with significant telecommunication redundancy by several means: an [[Physics:X band|X band]] [[Astronomy:Transponder (satellite communications)|transmitter and receiver]] that can communicate directly with [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]], and an [[Physics:Ultra high frequency|Ultra high frequency]] (UHF) [[Engineering:Electra (radio)|Electra-Lite]] [[Software-defined radio|software-defined radio]] for communicating with Mars orbiters.<ref name="DESCANSO"/> Communication with orbiters is the main path for data return to Earth, since the orbiters have both more power and larger antennas than the lander, allowing for faster transmission speeds.<ref name="DESCANSO"/> Telecommunication included a small deep space transponder on the descent stage and a solid-state power amplifier on the rover for [[Physics:X band|X-band]]. The rover also has two UHF radios,<ref name="DESCANSO"/> the signals of which orbiting relay satellites are capable of relaying back to Earth. Signals between Earth and Mars take an average of 14 minutes, 6 seconds.<ref name="Mars-Earth distance in light minutes"/> ''Curiosity'' can communicate with Earth directly at speeds up to 32 kbit/s, but the bulk of the data transfer is being relayed through the [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]] and [[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|Odyssey orbiter]]. Data transfer speeds between ''Curiosity'' and each orbiter may reach 2000 kbit/s and 256 kbit/s, respectively, but each orbiter is able to communicate with ''Curiosity'' for only about eight minutes per day (0.56% of the time).<ref name="Curiosity's data communication with Earth"/> Communication from and to ''Curiosity'' relies on internationally agreed space data communications protocols as defined by the [[Organization:Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems|Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems]].<ref name="CCSDS"/>

:[[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL) is the central data distribution hub where selected data products are provided to remote science operations sites as needed. JPL is also the central hub for the uplink process, though participants are distributed at their respective home institutions.<ref name="DESCANSO"/> At landing, telemetry was monitored by three orbiters, depending on their dynamic location: the [[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]], [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]] and ESA's [[Astronomy:Mars Express|Mars Express]] satellite.<ref name="ESA spacecraft records crucial NASA signals from Mars"/> As of February 2019, the [[Astronomy:MAVEN|MAVEN]] orbiter is being positioned to serve as a relay orbiter while continuing its science mission.<ref name="relay orbit"/>

=== Mobility systems ===
* '''Mobility systems''': ''Curiosity'' is equipped with six {{cvt|50|cm}} diameter wheels in a [[Astronomy:Rocker-bogie|rocker-bogie]] suspension. These are scaled versions of those used on Mars Exploration Rovers (MER).<ref name="DESCANSO"/> The suspension system also served as landing gear for the vehicle, unlike its smaller predecessors.<ref name="new wheels"/><ref name="nasa.build"/> Each wheel has cleats and is independently actuated and geared, providing for climbing in soft sand and scrambling over rocks. Each front and rear wheel can be independently steered, allowing the vehicle to turn in place as well as execute arcing turns.<ref name="DESCANSO"/> Each wheel has a pattern that helps it maintain traction but also leaves patterned tracks in the sandy surface of Mars. That pattern is used by on-board cameras to estimate the distance traveled. The pattern itself is [[Engineering:Morse code|Morse code]] for "JPL" (·--- ·--· ·-··).<ref name="aarlmorse"/> The rover is capable of climbing sand dunes with slopes up to 12.5°.<ref name="nasa.249"/> Based on the [[Physics:Center of mass|center of mass]], the vehicle can withstand a tilt of at least 50° in any direction without overturning, but automatic sensors limit the rover from exceeding 30° tilts.<ref name="DESCANSO"/> After six years of use, the wheels are visibly worn with punctures and tears.<ref name="planetary20140819"/>

:''Curiosity'' can roll over obstacles approaching {{cvt|65|cm}} in height,<ref name="facts"/> and it has a ground clearance of {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="first drive"/> Based on variables including power levels, terrain difficulty, slippage and visibility, the maximum terrain-traverse speed is estimated to be {{cvt|200|m}} per day by automatic navigation.<ref name="facts"/> The rover landed about {{cvt|10|km}} from the base of [[Astronomy:Mount Sharp|Mount Sharp]],<ref name="stuff-7437621"/> (officially named Aeolis Mons) and it is expected to traverse a minimum of {{cvt|19|km}} during its primary two-year mission.<ref name="home"/> It can travel up to {{cvt|90|m}} per hour but average speed is about {{cvt|30|m}} per hour.<ref name="home"/> The vehicle is 'driven' by several operators led by [[Biography:Vandi Verma|Vandi Verma]], group leader of Autonomous Systems, Mobility and Robotic Systems at JPL,<ref name="rg2019"/><ref name="jpl2019"/> who also cowrote the [[PLEXIL]] language used to operate the rover.<ref name="ntrs2019"/><ref name="plex2019"/><ref name="nasaapps"/>

=== Landing ===
{{Further|Astronomy:Bradbury Landing}}

''Curiosity'' landed in Quad 51 (nicknamed Yellowknife) of [[Astronomy:Aeolis Palus|Aeolis Palus]] in the crater Gale.<ref name="NASA-20120810"/><ref name="NASA-20120809"/><ref name="BBC-20120809"/><ref name="USA-20120809"/> The landing site coordinates are: {{coord|4.5895|S|137.4417|E|globe:Mars}}.<ref name="MSNBC-20120806"/><ref name="S&T-20120807"/> The location was named [[Astronomy:Bradbury Landing|Bradbury Landing]] on August 22, 2012, in honor of science fiction author [[Biography:Ray Bradbury|Ray Bradbury]].<ref name="NASA-20120822"/> Gale, an estimated 3.5 to 3.8 billion-year-old impact crater, is hypothesized to have first been gradually filled in by [[Earth:Sediment|sediment]]s; first water-deposited, and then wind-deposited, possibly until it was completely covered. Wind [[Earth:Erosion|erosion]] then scoured out the sediments, leaving an isolated {{cvt|5.5|km}} mountain, Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp"), at the center of the {{cvt|154|km}} wide crater. Thus, it is believed that the rover may have the opportunity to study two billion years of Martian history in the sediments exposed in the mountain. Additionally, its landing site is near an [[Earth:Alluvial fan|alluvial fan]], which is hypothesized to be the result of a flow of ground water, either before the deposition of the eroded sediments or else in relatively recent geologic history.<ref name="Crater mound a prize and puzzle for Mars rover"/><ref name="themis"/>

According to NASA, an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 heat-resistant bacterial spores were on ''Curiosity'' at launch, and as many as 1,000 times that number may not have been counted.<ref name="NYT-20151005-kc"/>

[[File:PIA16056hl.jpg|thumb|800px|center|''Curiosity'' and surrounding area as viewed by MRO/HiRISE. North is left. (August 14, 2012; enhanced colors)]]
{{clear}}

=== Rover's landing system ===
<!-- This section is only about the rover-related aspects of the landing. The full entry, descent, and landing were accomplished by the MSL spacecraft descent stage, covered in the Mars Science Laboratory article. -->
[[File:Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror.ogv|thumb|upright=0.9|right|NASA video describing the landing procedure. NASA dubbed the landing as "Seven Minutes of Terror"]]

Previous NASA Mars rovers became active only after the successful entry, descent and landing on the Martian surface. ''Curiosity'', on the other hand, was active when it touched down on the surface of Mars, employing the rover suspension system for the final set-down.<ref name="cnes3"/>

''Curiosity'' transformed from its stowed flight configuration to a landing configuration while the MSL spacecraft simultaneously lowered it beneath the spacecraft descent stage with a {{cvt|20|m}} tether from the "[[Astronomy:Sky crane (landing system)|sky crane]]" system to a soft landing—wheels down—on the surface of Mars.<ref name="EntryDescentLanding"/><ref name="Sky Crane – how to land Curiosity on the surface of Mars"/><ref name="Mars rover lands on Xbox Live"/><ref name="Mars Science Laboratory: Entry, Descent, and Landing System Performance"/> After the rover touched down it waited 2 seconds to confirm that it was on solid ground then fired several [[Engineering:Pyrotechnic fastener|pyrotechnic fastener]]s activating cable cutters on the bridle to free itself from the spacecraft descent stage. The descent stage then flew away to a crash landing, and the rover prepared itself to begin the science portion of the mission.<ref name="ellipse"/>

==== Travel status ====
As of December 9, 2020, the rover was {{cvt|23.32|km}} away from its landing site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://an.rsl.wustl.edu/msl/mslbrowser/an3.aspx|title=MSL Notebook - Curiosity Mars Rover data |website=an.rsl.wustl.edu|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref> As of April 17, 2020, the rover has been driven on fewer than 800 of its 2736 [[Astronomy:Sol (day on Mars)|sols]] (Martian days). As of 30 May, 2023 it had traveled 30.00 km (18.64 mi).

===Duplicate===
[[File:Curiosity's Vehicle System Test Bed (VSTB) Rover (PIA15876).jpg|thumb|MAGGIE Rover]]
[[File:648873main pia15682-43 full.jpg|thumb|Scarecrow rover]]
Curiosity has two full sized, vehicle system test beds (VSTB), a twin rover used for testing and problem solving, '''MAGGIE''' rover (Mars Automated Giant Gizmo for Integrated Engineering) with a computer brain and a '''Scarecrow''' rover without a computer brain. They are housed at the JPL Mars Yard for problem solving on simulated Mars terrain.<ref name=CNET-20200905>{{cite web |url= https://www.cnet.com/news/nasas-perseverance-mars-rover-has-an-earth-twin-named-optimism/ |title= NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has an Earth twin named Optimism |author= Amanda Kooser |date= September 5, 2020 |publisher= C/Net }}</ref><ref name=NASA-Mars-20200904>{{cite web |url= https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8749/nasa-readies-perseverance-mars-rovers-earthly-twin/ |title= NASA Readies Perseverance Mars Rover's Earthly Twin |date= September 4, 2020 |work= Mars Exploration Program |author= Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) |publisher= NASA }}</ref>

== Scientific instruments ==
[[File:Drawing-of-the-Mars-Science Laboratory.png|thumb|upright=0.9|right|Instrument location diagram]]

The general sample analysis strategy begins with high-resolution cameras to look for features of interest. If a particular surface is of interest, ''Curiosity'' can vaporize a small portion of it with an infrared laser and examine the resulting spectra signature to query the rock's elemental composition. If that signature is intriguing, the rover uses its long arm to swing over a microscope and an [[Physics:X-ray spectroscopy|X-ray spectrometer]] to take a closer look. If the specimen warrants further analysis, ''Curiosity'' can drill into the boulder and deliver a powdered sample to either the [[Astronomy:Sample Analysis at Mars|Sample Analysis at Mars]] (SAM) or the [[Engineering:CheMin|CheMin]] analytical laboratories inside the rover.<ref name="Gale Crater: Geological 'sweet shop' awaits Mars rover"/><ref name="MSLSAM"/><ref name="nasa2"/> The MastCam, Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) cameras were developed by [[Company:Malin Space Science Systems|Malin Space Science Systems]] and they all share common design components, such as on-board  [[Digital image processing|digital image processing]] boxes, 1600 × 1200 [[Engineering:Charge-coupled device|charge-coupled device]] (CCDs), and an [[Engineering:Bayer filter|RGB Bayer pattern filter]].<ref name="LPSCMast"/><ref name="MastCam"/><ref name="MAHLI"/><ref name="MARDI"/><ref name="MastCamDescription"/><ref name="NovEmail"/>

In total, the rover carries 17 cameras: HazCams (8), NavCams (4), MastCams (2), MAHLI (1), MARDI (1), and ChemCam (1).<ref name="wired20120807"/>

=== Mast Camera (MastCam) ===
[[File:Msl-arm.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|The turret at the end of the robotic arm holds five devices.]]

The MastCam system provides multiple spectra and [[Color of water|true-color]] imaging with two cameras.<ref name="MastCam"/> The cameras can take true-color images at 1600×1200 pixels and up to 10 [[Physics:Frames per second|frames per second]] hardware-compressed video at [[Engineering:720p|720p]] (1280×720).<ref name="arstech20120807"/>

One MastCam camera is the Medium Angle Camera (MAC), which has a {{cvt|34|mm}} [[Focal length|focal length]], a 15° [[Physics:Field of view|field of view]], and can yield 22&nbsp;cm/pixel (8.7 in/pixel) scale at {{cvt|1|km}}. The other camera in the MastCam is the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), which has a {{cvt|100|mm}} focal length, a 5.1° field of view, and can yield 7.4&nbsp;cm/pixel (2.9 in/pixel) scale at {{cvt|1|km}}.<ref name="MastCam"/> Malin also developed a pair of MastCams with zoom lenses,<ref name="Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast Camera (MastCam)"/> but these were not included in the rover because of the time required to test the new hardware and the looming November 2011 launch date.<ref name="NASA Nixes 3-D Camera for Next Mars Rover"/> However, the improved zoom version was selected to be incorporated on the [[Astronomy:Mars 2020|Mars 2020]] mission as Mastcam-Z.<ref name="Bell2014a"/>

Each camera has eight gigabytes of flash memory, which is capable of storing over 5,500 raw images, and can apply real time lossless data compression.<ref name="MastCam"/> The cameras have an autofocus capability that allows them to focus on objects from {{cvt|2.1|m}} to infinity.<ref name="MastCamDescription"/> In addition to the fixed [[Engineering:Bayer filter|RGBG]] Bayer pattern filter, each camera has an eight-position filter wheel. While the Bayer filter reduces visible light throughput, all three colors are mostly transparent at wavelengths longer than 700&nbsp;nm, and have minimal effect on such [[Physics:Infrared|infrared]] observations.<ref name="MastCam"/>
{{clear}}

=== Chemistry and Camera complex (ChemCam) ===
{{Main|Chemistry:Chemistry and Camera complex}}
[[File:483646main pia13398-4x3 1600-1200.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|right|The internal spectrometer (left) and the laser telescope (right) for the mast]]
[[File:PIA16089.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|left|First [[Physics:Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy|laser spectrum]] of chemical elements from ChemCam on ''Curiosity'' ("Coronation" rock, August 19, 2012)]]

[[Chemistry:Chemistry and Camera complex|ChemCam]] is a suite of two remote sensing instruments combined as one: a [[Physics:Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy|laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy]] (LIBS) and a Remote Micro Imager (RMI) telescope. The ChemCam instrument suite was developed by the French [[Organization:L'Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie|CESR]] laboratory and the [[Organization:Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos National Laboratory]].<ref name="MSLChemCam"/><ref name="Comparative study of different methodologies for quantitative rock analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in a simulated Martian atmosphere"/><ref name="Corrections and Clarifications, News of the Week"/> The flight model of the mast unit was delivered from the French [[Organization:CNES|CNES]] to [[Organization:Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos National Laboratory]].<ref name="lanl"/> The purpose of the LIBS instrument is to provide elemental compositions of rock and soil, while the RMI gives ChemCam scientists high-resolution images of the sampling areas of the rocks and soil that LIBS targets.<ref name="MSLChemCam"/><ref name="Spacecraft: Surface Operations Configuration: Science Instruments: ChemCam"/> The LIBS instrument can target a rock or soil sample up to {{cvt|7|m}} away, vaporizing a small amount of it with about 50 to 75 5-nanosecond pulses from a 1067 [[Nanometre|nm]] [[Physics:Infrared|infrared]] laser and then observes the spectrum of the light emitted by the vaporized rock.<ref name="softpedia20131206"/>

ChemCam has the ability to record up to 6,144 different wavelengths of [[Physics:Ultraviolet|ultraviolet]], [[Physics:Visible spectrum|visible]], and [[Physics:Infrared|infrared]] light.<ref name="nasa.1315"/> Detection of the ball of luminous plasma is done in the visible, near-UV and near-infrared ranges, between 240&nbsp;nm and 800&nbsp;nm.<ref name="MSLChemCam"/> The first initial [[Physics:Laser|laser]] testing of the ChemCam by ''Curiosity'' on Mars was performed on a rock, [[Astronomy:N165|N165 ("Coronation" rock)]], near [[Astronomy:Bradbury Landing|Bradbury Landing]] on August 19, 2012.<ref name="NASA-20120819a"/><ref name="NASA-20120819"/><ref name="BBC-20120817"/> The ChemCam team expects to take approximately one dozen compositional measurements of rocks per day.<ref name="chemcam"/> Using the same collection optics, the RMI provides context images of the LIBS analysis spots. The RMI resolves {{cvt|1|mm}} objects at {{cvt|10|m}} distance, and has a field of view covering {{cvt|20|cm}} at that distance.<ref name="MSLChemCam"/>
{{clear}}

=== Navigation cameras (NavCams) ===
{{Main|Engineering:Navcam}}
[[File:First two full-resolution images from the Curosity rover.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|right|First full-resolution Navcam images]]

The rover has two pairs of black and white [[Engineering:Navcam|navigation cameras]] mounted on the mast to support ground navigation.<ref name="MSLPhotosynth"/><ref name="NavCameras"/> The cameras have a 45° [[Angle of view|angle of view]] and use visible light to capture [[Stereoscopy|stereoscopic 3-D imagery]].<ref name="NavCameras"/><ref name="planetary.2012"/>

=== Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) ===
{{Main|Engineering:Rover Environmental Monitoring Station}}

REMS comprises instruments to measure the Mars environment: humidity, pressure, temperatures, wind speeds, and ultraviolet radiation.<ref name="Rover Environmental Monitoring Station for MSL mission"/> It is a meteorological package that includes an [[Physics:Ultraviolet|ultraviolet]] sensor provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The investigative team is led by Javier Gómez-Elvira of the [[Organization:Spanish Astrobiology Center|Spanish Astrobiology Center]] and includes the [[Organization:Finnish Meteorological Institute|Finnish Meteorological Institute]] as a partner.<ref name="MSLREMS"/><ref name="MSLREMS-pdf"/> All sensors are located around three elements: two booms attached to the rover's mast, the Ultraviolet Sensor (UVS) assembly located on the rover top deck, and the Instrument Control Unit (ICU) inside the rover body. REMS provides new clues about the Martian general circulation, micro scale weather systems, local hydrological cycle, destructive potential of UV radiation, and subsurface habitability based on ground-atmosphere interaction.<ref name="MSLREMS"/>

=== Hazard avoidance cameras (HazCams) ===
{{main|Engineering:Hazcam}}

The rover has four pairs of black and white navigation cameras called [[Engineering:Hazcam|hazcam]]s, two pairs in the front and two pairs in the back.<ref name="MSLPhotosynth"/><ref name="HazardAvoidanceCameras"/> They are used for autonomous hazard avoidance during rover drives and for safe positioning of the robotic arm on rocks and soils.<ref name="HazardAvoidanceCameras"/> Each camera in a pair is hardlinked to one of two identical main computers for redundancy; only four out of the eight cameras are in use at any one time. The cameras use visible light to capture [[Stereoscopy|stereoscopic]] three-dimensional (3-D) imagery.<ref name="HazardAvoidanceCameras"/> The cameras have a 120° [[Physics:Field of view|field of view]] and map the terrain at up to {{cvt|3|m}} in front of the rover.<ref name="HazardAvoidanceCameras"/> This imagery safeguards against the rover crashing into unexpected obstacles, and works in tandem with software that allows the rover to make its own safety choices.<ref name="HazardAvoidanceCameras"/>

=== Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) ===
{{Multiple image |direction=horizontal |align=right |total_width=350
| image1=PIA16161-Mars Curiosity Rover-MAHLI.jpg |caption1=Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)
| image2=PIA16160-Mars Curiosity Rover-APXS.jpg |caption2=Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)}}

MAHLI is a camera on the rover's robotic arm, and acquires microscopic images of rock and soil. MAHLI can take [[24-bit color|true-color]] images at 1600×1200 [[Pixel|pixel]]s with a resolution as high as 14.5 [[Micrometre|µm]] per pixel. MAHLI has an {{cvt|18.3|to|21.3|mm}} focal length and a 33.8–38.5° field of view.<ref name="MAHLI"/> MAHLI has both white and ultraviolet [[Engineering:Light-emitting diode|Light-emitting diode]] (LED) illumination for imaging in darkness or [[Biology:Fluorescence|fluorescence]] imaging. MAHLI also has mechanical focusing in a range from infinite to millimeter distances.<ref name="MAHLI"/> This system can make some images with [[Focus stacking|focus stacking]] processing.<ref name="Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)"/> MAHLI can store either the raw images or do real time lossless predictive or JPEG compression. The calibration target for MAHLI includes color references, a metric bar graphic, a 1909 VDB Lincoln penny, and a stair-step pattern for depth calibration.<ref name="NASA-20120913"/>

=== Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) ===

The APXS instrument irradiates samples with [[Physics:Alpha particle|alpha particle]]s and maps the spectra of [[Physics:X-ray|X-ray]]s that are re-emitted for determining the elemental composition of samples.<ref name="MSLAPXS"/> ''Curiosity''{{'s}} APXS was developed by the [[Organization:Canadian Space Agency|Canadian Space Agency]] (CSA).<ref name="MSLAPXS"/> MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA), the Canadian aerospace company that built the [[Engineering:Canadarm|Canadarm]] and RADARSAT, were responsible for the engineering design and building of the APXS. The APXS science team includes members from the University of Guelph, the [[Organization:University of New Brunswick|University of New Brunswick]], the University of Western Ontario, [[Organization:NASA|NASA]], the [[Organization:University of California, San Diego|University of California, San Diego]] and [[Organization:Cornell University|Cornell University]].<ref name="usra"/> The APXS instrument takes advantage of [[Physics:Particle-induced X-ray emission|particle-induced X-ray emission]] (PIXE) and [[Physics:X-ray fluorescence|X-ray fluorescence]], previously exploited by the [[Astronomy:Mars Pathfinder|Mars Pathfinder]] and the two [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]]s.<ref name="MSLAPXS"/><ref name="The new Athena alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for the Mars Exploration Rovers"/>

{{Multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
| align             = right
| total_width       = 350
| image1            = PIA16161-Mars Curiosity Rover-CheMin-Closed.jpg
| image2            = PIA16161-Mars Curiosity Rover-CheMin-Open.jpg
| footer            = ''Curiosity''{{'s}} CheMin Spectrometer on Mars (September 11, 2012), with sample inlet seen closed and open
}}

=== Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin)  ===
{{Main|Engineering:CheMin}}
[[File:PIA16217-MarsCuriosityRover-1stXRayView-20121017.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|First X-ray diffraction view of Martian soil (''Curiosity'' at Rocknest, October 17, 2012)<ref name="NASA-20121030"/>]]

[[Engineering:CheMin|CheMin]] is the Chemistry and Mineralogy X-ray [[Physics:Powder diffraction|powder diffraction]] and [[Physics:X-ray fluorescence|fluorescence]] instrument.<ref name="MSLCheMin"/> CheMin is one of four [[Physics:Spectrometer|spectrometer]]s. It can identify and quantify the abundance of the minerals on Mars. It was developed by David Blake at NASA [[Organization:Ames Research Center|Ames Research Center]] and the [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]],<ref name="fluorescence"/> and won the 2013 NASA Government Invention of the year award.<ref name="nasa20140624"/> The rover can drill samples from rocks and the resulting fine powder is poured into the instrument via a sample inlet tube on the top of the vehicle. A beam of X-rays is then directed at the powder and the crystal structure of the minerals deflects it at characteristic angles, allowing scientists to identify the minerals being analyzed.<ref name="SciPackage"/>

On October 17, 2012, at "[[Astronomy:Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]]", the first [[Physics:X-ray crystallography#Mineralogy and metallurgy|X-ray diffraction analysis]] of [[Astronomy:Martian soil|Martian soil]] was performed. The results revealed the presence of several minerals, including [[Chemistry:Feldspar|feldspar]], [[Chemistry:Pyroxene|pyroxene]]s and [[Chemistry:Olivine|olivine]], and suggested that the Martian soil in the sample was similar to the "weathered [[Earth:Basalt|basaltic soils]]" of Hawaiian volcanoes.<ref name="NASA-20121030"/> The paragonetic tephra from a Hawaiian [[Earth:Cinder cone|cinder cone]] has been mined to create [[Astronomy:Martian regolith simulant|Martian regolith simulant]] for researchers to use since 1998.<ref name="Beegle2007"/><ref name="Allen1997"/>

=== Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) ===
{{Main|Astronomy:Sample Analysis at Mars}}
{{Multiple image
 |direction=horizontal |align=left |total_width=300
 |image1=PIA16711-MarsCuriosityRover-SayunyeiRock-20130122wh.jpg
 |image2=PIA16712-MarsCuriosityRover-SayuneiRock-20130122uv.jpg
 |footer=First night-time pictures on Mars (white-light left/[[Physics:Ultraviolet|UV]] right) (''Curiosity'' viewing [[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Sayunei]] rock, January 22, 2013)
}}

The SAM instrument suite analyzes [[Chemistry:Organic compound|organics]] and gases from both atmospheric and solid samples. It consists of instruments developed by the NASA [[Organization:Goddard Space Flight Center|Goddard Space Flight Center]], the Laboratoire Inter-Universitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA) (jointly operated by France's CNRS and Parisian universities), and [[Company:Honeybee Robotics|Honeybee Robotics]], along with many additional external partners.<ref name="MSLSAM"/><ref name="search"/><ref name="SAM"/> The three main instruments are a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), a gas chromatograph (GC) and a [[Physics:Resonance Raman spectroscopy#Instrumentation|tunable laser spectrometer (TLS)]]. These instruments perform precision measurements of [[Chemistry:Oxygen|oxygen]] and [[Chemistry:Carbon|carbon]] [[Physics:Isotope|isotope]] ratios in [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars#Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>) in the [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars|atmosphere of Mars]] in order to distinguish between their [[Chemistry:Geochemistry|geochemical]] or [[Biology:Biology|biological]] origin.<ref name="MSLSAM"/><ref name="SAM"/><ref name="optics.6923"/><ref name="Mah2012"/>

{{Multiple image
 |direction=horizontal |align=right |total_width=300
 |image1=PIA16619-MarsCuriosityRover-Ekwir1-CleanDRT-20130106.gif
 |image2=MarsCuriosityRover-DustRemovalTool-Before-PIA16566.jpg
 |footer=First use of ''Curiosity''{{'s}} Dust Removal Tool (DRT) (January 6, 2013); [[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Ekwir 1]] rock before/after cleaning (left) and closeup (right)
}}

=== Dust Removal Tool (DRT) ===
The Dust Removal Tool (DRT) is a motorized, wire-bristle brush on the turret at the end of ''Curiosity''{{'s}} arm. The DRT was first used on a rock target named [[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Ekwir 1]] on January 6, 2013. [[Company:Honeybee Robotics|Honeybee Robotics]] built the DRT.<ref name="space20130107"/>

=== Radiation assessment detector (RAD) ===
{{Main|Astronomy:Radiation assessment detector}}

The role of the [[Astronomy:Radiation assessment detector|Radiation assessment detector]] (RAD) instrument is to characterize the broad spectrum of radiation environment found inside the spacecraft during the cruise phase and while on Mars. These measurements have never been done before from the inside of a spacecraft in interplanetary space. Its primary purpose is to determine the viability and shielding needs for potential human explorers, as well as to characterize the radiation environment on the surface of Mars, which it started doing immediately after MSL landed in August 2012.<ref name="MSLRAD"/> Funded by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters and Germany's Space Agency ([[Organization:German Aerospace Center|DLR]]), RAD was developed by [[Organization:Southwest Research Institute|Southwest Research Institute]] (SwRI) and the extraterrestrial physics group at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany.<ref name="MSLRAD"/><ref name="rad"/>

=== Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) ===
{{main|Engineering:Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons}}

The DAN instrument employs a [[Physics:Neutron source|neutron source]] and detector for measuring the quantity and depth of [[Chemistry:Hydrogen|hydrogen]] or ice and water at or near the Martian surface.<ref name="IKI" /> 
The instrument consists of the detector element (DE) and a 14.1 MeV pulsing neutron generator (PNG). The die-away time of neutrons is measured by the DE after each neutron pulse from the PNG.
DAN was provided by the Russian Federal Space Agency<ref name="MSLDAN" /><ref name="The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Experiment for NASA's 2009 Mars Science Laboratory" /> and funded by Russia.<ref name="Mars Science Laboratory: Mission"/>
{{clear left}}

=== Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) ===
[[File:MARDI-MSL-camera.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|left|MARDI camera]]

MARDI is fixed to the lower front left corner of the body of ''Curiosity''. During the descent to the Martian surface, MARDI took color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a 1.3-millisecond exposure time starting at distances of about {{cvt|3.7|km}} to near {{cvt|5|m}} from the ground, at a rate of four [[Physics:Frames per second|frames per second]] for about two minutes.<ref name="MARDI"/><ref name="Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) Update"/> MARDI has a pixel scale of {{cvt|1.5|m}} at {{cvt|2|km}} to {{cvt|1.5|mm}} at {{cvt|2|m}} and has a 90° circular field of view. MARDI has eight gigabytes of internal buffer memory that is capable of storing over 4,000 raw images. MARDI imaging allowed the mapping of surrounding terrain and the location of landing.<ref name="MARDI"/> [[Astronomy:JunoCam|JunoCam]], built for the [[Engineering:Juno (spacecraft)|''Juno'' spacecraft]], is based on MARDI.<ref name="Junocam, Juno Jupiter Orbiter"/>

{{Multiple image
 |direction=vertical |align=right |total_width=300
 |image1=PIA16225-MarsCuriosityRover-ScooperTest-20121008.jpg
 |image2=PIA16226-MarsCuriosityRover-FirstScoopOfSoil-20121007.jpg
 |footer=First use of ''Curiosity''{{'s}} scooper as it sifts a load of [[Astronomy:Martian soil|sand]] at [[Astronomy:Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]] (October 7, 2012)
}}

=== Robotic arm ===
[[File:MarsCuriosityRover-Drilling-01.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|First drill tests (John Klein rock, Yellowknife Bay, February 2, 2013).<ref name="TMJ-20130203"/>]]

The rover has a {{cvt|2.1|m}} long [[Engineering:Robotic arm|robotic arm]] with a cross-shaped turret holding five devices that can spin through a 350° turning range.<ref name="rover arm"/><ref name="Test challenges"/> The arm makes use of three joints to extend it forward and to stow it again while driving. It has a mass of {{cvt|30|kg}} and its diameter, including the tools mounted on it, is about {{cvt|60|cm}}.<ref name="stretches arm" /> It was designed, built, and tested by MDA US Systems, building upon their prior robotic arm work on the [[Astronomy:Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander|Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander]], the ''[[Engineering:Phoenix (spacecraft)|Phoenix]]'' lander, and the two [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]]s, ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity''.<ref name="mdacorp"/>

Two of the five devices are ''in-situ'' or contact instruments known as the X-ray spectrometer (APXS), and the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI camera). The remaining three are associated with sample acquisition and sample preparation functions: a percussion drill; a brush; and mechanisms for scooping, sieving, and portioning samples of powdered rock and soil.<ref name="rover arm"/><ref name="stretches arm"/> The diameter of the hole in a rock after drilling is {{cvt|1.6|cm}} and up to {{cvt|5|cm}} deep.<ref name="Test challenges"/><ref name="Washington U"/> The drill carries two spare bits.<ref name="Washington U"/><ref name="esmats.2011"/> The rover's arm and turret system can place the APXS and MAHLI on their respective targets, and also obtain powdered sample from rock interiors, and deliver them to the [[Astronomy:Sample Analysis at Mars|SAM]] and [[Engineering:CheMin|CheMin]] analyzers inside the rover.<ref name="Test challenges"/>

Since early 2015 the percussive mechanism in the drill that helps chisel into rock has had an intermittent electrical short.<ref name="drill-fault"/> On December 1, 2016, the motor inside the drill caused a malfunction that prevented the rover from moving its robotic arm and driving to another location.<ref name="popmech20161213"/> The fault was isolated to the drill feed brake,<ref name="spacecom20161215"/> and internal debris is suspected of causing the problem.<ref name="drill-fault"/> By December 9, 2016, driving and robotic arm operations were cleared to continue, but drilling remained suspended indefinitely.<ref name="nasa20161209"/> The ''Curiosity'' team continued to perform diagnostics and testing on the drill mechanism throughout 2017,<ref name="planetary20170906"/> and resumed drilling operations on May 22, 2018.<ref name="drillingagain"/>

== Media, cultural impact and legacy ==
[[File:Cheering-full-br2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Celebration erupts at NASA with the rover's successful landing on Mars (August 6, 2012).]]

Live video showing the first footage from the surface of Mars was available at NASA TV, during the late hours of August 6, 2012, PDT, including interviews with the mission team. The NASA website momentarily became unavailable from the overwhelming number of people visiting it,<ref name="Lands"/> and a 13-minute NASA excerpt of the landings on its YouTube channel was halted an hour after the landing by an automated [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|copyright]] takedown notice from [[Company:E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Local News]], which prevented access for several hours.<ref name="vice"/> Around 1,000 people gathered in New York City's Times Square, to watch NASA's live broadcast of ''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing, as footage was being shown on the giant screen.<ref name="TimeSquare"/> [[Biography:Bobak Ferdowsi|Bobak Ferdowsi]], Flight Director for the landing, became an [[Social:Internet meme|Internet meme]] and attained Twitter celebrity status, with 45,000 new followers subscribing to his Twitter account, due to his Mohawk hairstyle with yellow stars that he wore during the televised broadcast.<ref name="space"/><ref name="venturebeat"/>

On August 13, 2012, U.S. President [[Biography:Barack Obama|Barack Obama]], calling from aboard {{wipe|Air Force One}} to congratulate the ''Curiosity'' team, said, "You guys are examples of American know-how and ingenuity. It's really an amazing accomplishment".<ref name="NYT-20120813"/> ([http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/movies/msl20120813_obamacall/msl20120813_obamacall-320.mov Video (07:20)])

Scientists at the Getty Conservation Institute in {{wipe|Los Angeles}}, {{wipe|California}}, viewed the CheMin instrument aboard ''Curiosity'' as a potentially valuable means to examine ancient works of art without damaging them. Until recently, only a few instruments were available to determine the composition without cutting out physical samples large enough to potentially damage the artifacts. CheMin directs a beam of [[Physics:X-ray|X-ray]]s at particles as small as {{cvt|400|µm}}<ref name="inxitu"/> and reads the [[Physics:Radiation|radiation]] [[Physics:Scattering|scattered]] back to determine the composition of the artifact in minutes. Engineers created a smaller, portable version named the ''X-Duetto''. Fitting into a few briefcase-sized boxes, it can examine objects on site, while preserving their physical integrity. It is now being used by Getty scientists to analyze a large collection of museum antiques and the Roman ruins of [[Religion:Herculaneum|Herculaneum]], Italy.<ref name="NS-201208"/>

Prior to the landing, NASA and [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]] released ''Mars Rover Landing'', a free downloadable game on Xbox Live that uses [[Engineering:Kinect|Kinect]] to capture body motions, which allows users to simulate the landing sequence.<ref name="newsday"/>

{{Multiple image
 |direction=horizontal |align=left |total_width=350
 |image1=PIA15882-Mars Curiosity Rover-USA-Flag.jpg |caption1=U.S. flag medallion
 |image2=PIA15883-Mars Curiosity Rover-President Obama Signature on Plaque.jpg |caption2=[[Social:Commemorative plaque|Plaque]] with [[Biography:Barack Obama|President Obama]] and Vice President Biden's signatures
}}

NASA gave the general public the opportunity from 2009 until 2011 to submit their names to be sent to Mars. More than 1.2 million people from the international community participated, and their names were etched into [[Chemistry:Silicon|silicon]] using an electron-beam machine used for fabricating micro devices at [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]], and this plaque is now installed on the deck of ''Curiosity''.<ref name="Send Your Name to Mars"/> In keeping with a 40-year tradition, a plaque with the signatures of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden was also installed. Elsewhere on the rover is the autograph of Clara Ma, the 12-year-old girl from {{wipe|Kansas}} who gave ''Curiosity'' its name in an essay contest, writing in part that "curiosity is the passion that drives us through our everyday lives".<ref name="collect"/>

On August 6, 2013, ''Curiosity'' audibly played "Happy Birthday to You" in honor of the one Earth year mark of its Martian landing, the first time for a song to be played on another planet. This was also the first time music was transmitted between two planets.<ref name="WP-20130806"/>

On June 24, 2014, ''Curiosity'' completed a Martian year — 687 Earth days — after finding that Mars once had [[Organization:Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Evidence for ancient habitability|environmental conditions favorable for microbial life]].<ref name="NASA-20140623"/> ''Curiosity'' served as the basis for the design of the [[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance rover]] for the Mars 2020 rover mission. Some spare parts from the build and ground test of ''Curiosity'' are being used in the new vehicle, but it will carry a different instrument payload.<ref name="CNET Harwood first"/>

In 2014, project chief engineer wrote a book detailing the development of the Curiosity rover.  "Mars Rover Curiosity: An Inside Account from Curiosity's Chief Engineer, is a first hand account of the development and landing of the Curiosity Rover.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25288571-mars-rover-curiosity | title=Mars Rover Curiosity: An Inside Account from Curiosity'… }}</ref>

On August 5, 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the ''Curiosity'' rover mission landing, and related exploratory accomplishments, on the planet [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]].<ref name="NASA-20170802"/><ref name="SP-20170805"/> (Videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxvODcuFb1s ''Curiosity''{{'s}} First Five Years (02:07)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0nPFaBU98k ''Curiosity''{{'s}} POV: Five Years Driving (05:49)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-uAz82sH-E ''Curiosity''{{'s}} Discoveries About Gale Crater (02:54)])

As reported in 2018, drill samples taken in 2015 uncovered organic molecules of [[Chemistry:Benzene|benzene]] and [[Chemistry:Propane|propane]] in 3 billion year old rock samples in Gale.<ref name="NYT-20180607"/><ref name="SCI-20180608a"/><ref name="SCI-20180608c"/>

== Images ==
{{Multiple image |align=center
 |image1=The Descent of the Curiosity Rover HD.ogv |width1=300 |caption1=Descent of ''Curiosity'' (video-02:26; August 6, 2012)
 |image2=Curiosity Rover.stl |width2=290 |caption2=Interactive 3D model of the rover (with extended arm)
}}

=== Components of ''Curiosity'' ===
<gallery>
File:20110406 PIA13809 D2011 0404 D036 cropped-full.jpg|Mast head with ChemCam, MastCam-34, MastCam-100, NavCam
File:Curiosity wheel pattern morse code.png|One of the six wheels on ''Curiosity''
File:Curiosity's high gain antenna and low gain antenna.jpg|High-gain (right) and low-gain (left) antennas
File:The UV sensor on the Curiosity rover deck.jpg|UV sensor
</gallery>

=== Orbital images ===
<gallery>
File:HiRISE image of MSL during EDL (refined).png|''Curiosity'' descending under its parachute (6 August 2012; [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]/HiRISE).
File:PIA16813-MarsCuriosityRover-ParachuteFlapsInWind-20120812to20130113.gif|''Curiosity''{{'s}} parachute flapping in [[Astronomy:Climate of Mars#Wind|Martian wind]] (12 August 2012 to 13 January 2013; [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]).
File:PIA19674-Mars-GaleCrater-SurfaceMaterials-20150619.jpg|Gale crater - surface materials (false colors; [[Engineering:Thermal Emission Imaging System|THEMIS]]; [[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]]).
File:Mars Science Laboratory landing ellipse reduced.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing site is on [[Astronomy:Aeolis Palus|Aeolis Palus]] near Mount Sharp (north is down).
File:Curiosity Cradled by Gale Crater.jpg|Mount Sharp rises from the middle of Gale; the green dot marks ''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing site (north is down).
File:PIA16064-Mars Curiosity Rover Treasure Map.jpg|Green dot is ''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing site; upper blue is [[Astronomy:Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg]]; lower blue is base of Mount Sharp.
File:Curiosity Rover Landing Site - Quadmapping Yellowknife.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing ellipse. Quad 51, called Yellowknife, marks the area where ''Curiosity'' actually landed.
File:Mars Curiosity Rover - Yellowknife Landing Site.jpg|Quad 51, a 1-mile-by-1-mile section of the crater Gale - ''Curiosity'' landing site is noted.
File:PIA15696-HiRISE-MSL-Sol11 2 -br2.jpg|[[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|MSL]] [[Astronomy:Space debris|debris field]] - parachute landed 615 m from ''Curiosity'' (3-D: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130512005245/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Rover3D-pia16208-br2.jpg rover] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012939/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Parachute3D-pia16209-br2.jpg parachute]) (17 August 2012; [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]).
File:Curiosity Rover (Exaggerated Color) - HiRISE - 20120814.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} landing site, [[Astronomy:Bradbury Landing|Bradbury Landing]], as seen by [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]/HiRISE (14 August 2012)
File:PIA16141-Curiosity Rover Tracks-20120906.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} first tracks viewed by [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]/HiRISE (6 September 2012)
File:PIA17085-MarsCuriosityRover-TraverseMap-Sol351-20130801.jpg|First-year and first-mile [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/ map] of ''Curiosity''{{'s}} traverse on Mars (1 August 2013) ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16210.jpg 3-D]).
</gallery>

=== Rover images ===
<gallery>
File:NASA-MSL-Curiosity -Heat-shield.674789main pia16021-full full.jpg|Ejected heat shield as viewed by ''Curiosity'' descending to Martian surface (6 August 2012)
File:First picture sent by the Mars Curiosity rover.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} first image after landing (6 August 2012). The rover's wheel can be seen.
File:NASA Curiosity, first image without dust cover.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} first image after landing (without clear dust cover, 6 August 2012)
File:673885main PIA15986-full full.jpg|''Curiosity'' landed on 6 August 2012 near the base of Aeolis Mons (or "Mount Sharp")<ref name="PHYS-20120815"/>
File:First colored image from Curiosity.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} first color image of the Martian landscape, taken by MAHLI (6 August 2012)
File:PIA16149-Mars Curiosity Rover Takes Self Portrait.jpg|alt=Curiosity's self-portrait  – with closed dust cover (7 September 2012)|''Curiosity''{{'s}} self-portrait – with closed dust cover (7 September 2012)
File:PIA16149 MSL Curiosity Rover Self Portrait colour correction.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} self-portrait (7 September 2012; color-corrected)
File:PIA16132-MarsCuriosityRover-CalibrationTarget-20120909.jpg|[[Color chart|Calibration target]] of MAHLI (9 September 2012; [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/images/MAHLIcaltarget-br2.jpg alternate 3-D version])
File:PIA16131-US Lincoln Penny on Mars.jpg|1909 U.S. Lincoln penny on [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] (''Curiosity''; 10 September 2012)<br />([http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/images/MAHLIcaltarget-br2.jpg 3-D]; [[:File:MarsCuriosityRover-Penny-20131002.jpg|2 October 2013]])
File:NASA-MarsCuriosityRover-Penny-20180904.jpg|U.S. Lincoln penny on [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] (''Curiosity''; 4 September 2018)
File:PIA16134-Mars Curiosity Rover Wheels.jpg|Wheels on ''Curiosity''. Mount Sharp is visible in the background. (MAHLI, 9 September 2012)
File:PIA16094-Mars Curiosity Rover-First Drive Tracks.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} tracks on first test drive (22 August 2012), after parking {{cvt|6|m}} from [[Astronomy:Bradbury Landing|original landing site]]<ref name="NASA-20120822"/>
File:PIA16800-MarsCuriosityRover-MtSharp-ColorVersions-20120823.jpg|Comparison of [[Color balance|color versions]] (raw, natural, white balance) of Aeolis Mons on Mars (23 August 2012)
File:PIA16068 - Mars Curiosity Rover - Aeolis Mons - 20120817.jpg|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of Aeolis Mons (9 August 2012; [[Color balance|white-balanced image]])
File:PIA16105 malin04ano-br2.jpg|Layers at the base of Aeolis Mons. The dark rock in inset is the same size as ''Curiosity''.
</gallery>

=== Self-portraits ===
{{multiple image 
|align=center
|perrow =8, 9
|total_width=1000
|header=Self-portraits of ''Curiosity'' rover on [[Astronomy:Mount Sharp|Mount Sharp]]
|footer = See also: [[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|List of rocks on Mars]]
|image1=PIA16239 High-Resolution Self-Portrait by Curiosity Rover Arm Camera.jpg 
|caption1="[[Astronomy:Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]]"<br />(October 2012)
|image2=PIA16937-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortraitAtJohnKlein-20130510.jpg 
|caption2="John Klein"<br />(May 2013)
|image3=PIA18390-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortraitAtWindjana-20140512.jpg 
|caption3="Windjana"<br />(May 2014)
|image4=PIA19142-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Mojave-20150131.jpg 
|caption4="Mojave"<br />(January 2015)
|image5=PIA19808-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-BuckskinRock-20150805.jpg 
|caption5="Buckskin"<br />(August 2015)
|image6=PIA19920-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Sol1126-20151006-crop.jpg 
|caption6="Big Sky"<br />(October 2015)
|image7=PIA20316-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-SandDune-20160119.jpg 
|caption7="Namib"<br />(January 2016)|width8=1673|height8=2121 
|image8=PIA20844-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Sol1466-20160920.jpg 
|caption8="Murray"<br />(September 2016)
|image9=PIA22207-Mars-CuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-20180123.jpg
|caption9="Vera Rubin"<br />(January 2018)
|width10=4392 |height10=6066|image10=NASA-CuriosityRover-Selfie-June2018.jpg
|caption10="Dust Storm"<br />(June 2018)
|image11=PIA22960-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-RockHall-VeraRubinRidge-20190115.jpg
|caption11="Vera Rubin"<br />(January 2019)
|image12=PIA23240-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Aberlady-Kilmarie-20190512.jpg
|caption12="Aberlady"<br />(May 2019)
|image13=PIA23378-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-GlenEtive-20191011.jpg
|caption13="Glen Etive"<br />(October 2019)
|image15=PIA24173-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-20201112.jpg
|caption15="[[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Mary Anning]]"<br />(November 2020)
|image16=MSL Sol 3070 - MAHLI (Version 2) (51084526931).jpg
|caption16="Mont Mercou"<br />(March 2021)
|image17=PIA24938-MarsCuriosityRover-GreenheughPediment-20211120.jpg
|caption17="[[Astronomy:List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Greenheugh Pediment]]"<br />(November 2021)
|image14=PIA23624-MarsCuriosityRover-HuttonDrillSite-20200226.jpg
|caption14="Hutton" (February 2020) 
}}

=== Wide images ===
{{wide image|First 360 color panorama from the Curosity rover.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} first 360° color panorama image (August 8, 2012)<ref name="PHYS-20120815"/><ref name="CuriosityRover-360Cities"/>}}
{{wide image|PIA16768-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-20120920.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of Mount Sharp (September 20, 2012; [http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16769.jpg raw color version])}}
{{wide image|PIA16918-MarsCuriosityRover-RockNest-HiRezWB-20121116.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of the [[Astronomy:Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]] area. South is at center, north is at both ends. Mount Sharp dominates the horizon, while [[Astronomy:Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg]] is left-of-center and rover tracks are right-of-center (November 16, 2012; [[Color balance|white balanced]]; [http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16919 raw color version]; [http://mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/interactives/billionpixel/ high-res panoramic]).}}
{{wide image |PIA16453-MarsCuriosityRover-RocknestPanorama-20121126.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view from [[Astronomy:Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]] looking east toward Point Lake (center) on the way to [[Astronomy:Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg]] (November 26, 2012; [[Color balance|white balanced]]; [[:File:PIA16453-MarsCuriosityRover-RocknestPanorama-Raw-20121126.jpg|raw color version]])}}
{{wide image|PIA19912-MarsCuriosityRover-MountSharp-20151002.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of "Mount Sharp" (September 9, 2015)}}
{{wide image|Martian-Sunset-O-de-Goursac-Curiosity-2013.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of [[Astronomy:Extraterrestrial skies#Mars|Mars sky]] at [[Astronomy:Sunset#Planets|sunset]] (February 2013; Sun simulated by artist)}}
{{wide image|File:Mars curiousity 360 panorama may 4 2020.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|''Curiosity''{{'s}} view of Glen Torridon near Mount Sharp, the rover's highest-resolution 360° panoramic image of over 1.8 billion pixels (at full size) from over 1000 photos taken between November 24 and December 1, 2019}}

==Locations==
[[File:Curiosity Traverse Path showing its current location.png|thumb|center|300px|{{center|Curiosity Traverse Path showing its location in June, 2021}}]]
{{Features and artificial objects on Mars}}

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Experience Curiosity}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:InSight}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Life on Mars}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Viking program}}
* {{annotated link|Organization:Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory}}
* ''[[Astronomy:Mars Express|Mars Express]]''
* ''[[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]]''
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Mars Orbiter Mission}}
* ''[[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]''
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Mars 2020}}
* ''[[Engineering:Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner]]'' rover
* ''[[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' rover
* ''[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' rover
* ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' rover
* ''[[Engineering:Rosalind Franklin (rover)|Rosalind Franklin]]'' rover
* ''[[Engineering:Zhurong (rover)|Zhurong]]'' rover
* Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars rovers
{{div col end}}
{{-}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
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}}

== External links ==
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/ ''Curiosity'' - NASA's Mars Exploration Program]
* [https://slideslive.com/38890315/the-search-for-life-on-mars-elsewhere-in-the-solar-system-curiosity-update The search for life on Mars and elsewhere in the Solar System: ''Curiosity'' update - Video lecture by Christopher P. McKay]
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/ultimate-mars-challenge.html MSL - ''Curiosity'' Design and Mars Landing - PBS ''Nova'' (14 November 2012) - Video (53:06)]
* [https://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731 MSL - "''Curiosity'' 'StreetView'" (Sol 2 - 8 August 2012) - NASA/JPL - 360° Panorama]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141109015701/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/learncuriosity/index-2.html MSL - ''Curiosity'' Rover - Learn About ''Curiosity'' - NASA/JPL]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131215005525/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/photosynth/ MSL - ''Curiosity'' Rover - Virtual Tour - NASA/JPL]
* [https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html MSL - NASA Image Gallery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107051903/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html |date=January 7, 2020 }}
* [https://cab.inta-csic.es/rems/en/ Weather Reports] from the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS)
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/27478475 MSL - NASA Update - AGU Conference (3 December 2012) Video (70:13)]
* [https://www.universetoday.com/106350/go-mars-digging-beside-curiosity-in-new-panorama/ Panorama] (via Universe Today)
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/22472/curiositys-proposed-path-up-mount-sharp/ ''Curiosity's Proposed Path up Mount Sharp'' NASA May 2019]

{{Curiosity Rover Timeline}}
{{MSL}}
{{Astrobiology}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}
{{Solar System probes}}
{{2012 in space}}

[[Category:Aeolis quadrangle]]
[[Category:American inventions]]
[[Category:Astrobiology space missions]]
[[Category:Individual space vehicles]]
[[Category:Mars Science Laboratory]]
[[Category:NASA space probes]]
[[Category:Nuclear-powered robots]]
[[Category:Nuclear power in space]]
[[Category:Six-wheeled robots]]
[[Category:Soft landings on Mars]]

{{Sourceattribution|Curiosity (rover)}}