NASA's Curiosity rover marks 14 years on Mars

On August 6, 2012 NASA’s Curiosity rover touched down on Mars using a novel sky‑crane maneuver, landing in Gale Crater after the so‑called “seven minutes of terror.” Weighing about one ton and powered by a nuclear battery, the rover began a mission originally planned for only a few years.

Fourteen years later the rover has logged nearly 5,000 sols, remains fully operational, and continues to send back scientific data. Curiosity carries 17 cameras, has drilled 42 powder‑sample holes, and captured iconic images such as a panoramic view of Mount Sharp, night‑time LED‑lit drill sites, and evidence of ancient groundwater. NASA and JPL celebrated the anniversary by highlighting the most striking photos and milestones from the mission’s long‑term exploration of Mars.

The rover’s ongoing work contributes to understanding Mars’ past habitability and informs future missions, including the Perseverance rover that used the same sky‑crane technique in 2021.