← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN1.52 AU
DISTANCE FROM EARTH1.2 AU
VELOCITY24.1 km/s
LIGHT TIME10 min
ACTIVE
1.52
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
227,388,763 km
86,760
KM/H
VELOCITY
14 years, 124 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
10
MINUTES LIGHT TIME
ONE-WAY SIGNAL DELAY
899
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Mars
Curiosity is a rover mission by NASA / JPL targeting Mars. Launched November 26, 2011. Currently 1.52 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT CURIOSITY
Curiosity is a car-sized rover that landed in Gale Crater on Mars in August 2012. It was sent to investigate whether Mars ever had conditions favorable for microbial life. Curiosity has been climbing Mount Sharp, a 5.5 km high mound of sedimentary layers, reading the geological history of Mars like pages in a book.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Evidence Mars once had habitable conditions
- Organic compounds in Martian rocks
- Methane variations in Mars atmosphere
- Ancient streambed found at Gale Crater
- Climbing Mount Sharp revealing billions of years of Mars history
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Sky crane landing system (first use)
- Nuclear-powered rover
- First Mars rover with a drill capable of interior rock sampling
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (9)
Mastcam (mast cameras)
ChemCam (laser spectrometer)
SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars)
CheMin (X-ray diffraction)
RAD (Radiation assessment)
DAN (Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons)
REMS (weather station)
MAHLI (hand lens imager)
MARDI (descent imager)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass899 kg (1,982 lbs)
PowerRTG (MMRTG, Plutonium-238) (110W)
Propulsion6-wheel rocker-bogie
CommunicationsUHF relay, X-band direct
Launch VehicleAtlas V 541
Launch DateNovember 26, 2011
Arrival DateAugust 6, 2012
ProgramMars Science Laboratory
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Mars
OTHER MARS MISSIONS