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Curiosity (rover)
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<p><i>Curiosity</i> is a car-sized <a href="/facts/Mars_rover/6ueforXf">Mars rover</a> <a href="/facts/Space_exploration/2eKXYVdq">exploring</a> <a href="/facts/Gale_(crater)/66wceenX">Gale crater</a> and <a href="/facts/Mount_Sharp/zbaRamMP">Mount Sharp</a> on <a href="/facts/Mars/AQGtVvz0">Mars</a> as part of <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Mars_Science_Laboratory/yEARUMpM">Mars Science Laboratory</a> (MSL) mission. <i>Curiosity</i> was launched from <a href="/facts/Cape_Canaveral_Space_Force_Station/dwJ9MCPH">Cape Canaveral</a> (CCAFS) on November 26, 2011, at 15:02:00 <a href="/facts/Coordinated_Universal_Time/2EnjfSyu">UTC</a> and landed on <a href="/facts/Aeolis_Palus/M16DEo9R">Aeolis Palus</a> inside Gale crater on Mars on August 6, 2012, 05:17:57 UTC. The <a href="/facts/Bradbury_Landing/WDdpHlWP">Bradbury Landing</a> site was less than 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the center of the rover's touchdown target after a 560 million km (350 million mi) journey. </p><p>Mission goals include an investigation of the Martian <a href="/facts/Climate_of_Mars/fRAS3qWy">climate</a> and <a href="/facts/Geology_of_Mars/rt6zWIKx">geology</a>, an assessment of whether the selected field site inside Gale has ever offered <a href="/facts/Environmental_science/svr8eCse">environmental conditions</a> favorable for <a href="/facts/Life_on_Mars/A14ye2It">microbial life</a> (including investigation of the <a href="/facts/Water_on_Mars/uBNTfa37">role of water</a>), and <a href="/facts/Planetary_habitability/n8A0ehR8">planetary habitability</a> studies in preparation for <a href="/facts/Human_mission_to_Mars/zIwMBMPD">human exploration</a>. </p><p>In December 2012, <i>Curiosity</i>'s two-year mission was extended indefinitely. On August 6, 2022, a detailed overview of accomplishments by the <i>Curiosity</i> rover for the last ten years was reported. The rover is still operational, and as of 4 May 2025, <i>Curiosity</i> has been active on Mars for 4530 <a href="/facts/Sol_(day_on_Mars)/qWR8IrPp">sols</a> (4654 <a href="/facts/Day/MTAtWLDj">total days</a>; <i>12 years, 271 days</i>) since its landing (see <a href="/facts/Timeline_of_Mars_Science_Laboratory/GVTkPlsW">current status</a>). </p><p>The NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory/<i>Curiosity</i> Project Team was awarded the 2012 <a href="/facts/Robert_J._Collier_Trophy/qprIInz7">Robert J. Collier Trophy</a> by the <a href="/facts/National_Aeronautic_Association/eVYVMkw7">National Aeronautic Association</a> "In recognition of the extraordinary achievements of successfully landing <i>Curiosity</i> on Mars, advancing the nation's technological and engineering capabilities, and significantly improving humanity's understanding of ancient Martian habitable environments." <i>Curiosity</i>'s rover design serves as the basis for NASA's 2021 <a href="/facts/Perseverance_(rover)/NFoubTKJ"><i>Perseverance</i> mission</a>, which carries different scientific instruments. </p>