NASA’s Curiosity rover – Astronomy Now

Curiosity confirms clay deposits on slopes of Mount Sharp

31 May 2019 Astronomy Now

The Curiosity Mars rover has confirmed the presence of clay deposits, formed in the presence of water in the distant past, on the slopes of Mount Sharp.

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover coming together at JPL

13 May 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover is taking shape at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where engineers are integrating key components.

Curiosity drills into clay unit; InSight ‘mole’ tests continue

13 April 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover has started drilling in a clay-bearing unit on the slope of Mount Sharp where rocks formed in the presence of water are expected.

End of an era: NASA gives up on Opportunity rover

14 February 2019 Astronomy Now

After a final attempt to restore contact with the Opportunity Mars rover, NASA managers declared the spacecraft lost, bringing a 15-year mission to an end.

Curiosity captures stunning panorama on slopes of Mount Sharp

10 February 2019 Astronomy Now

Before departing Vera Rubin Ridge on the slopes of Mount Sharp, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sent back a spectacular 360-degree panorama.

Curiosity takes a final selfie from Vera Rubin Ridge

30 January 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover snapped a final selfie from Vera Rubin Ridge on the slopes of Gale Crater before moving on to study nearby clay-bearing soil.

Final NASA workshop considers Mars 2020 landing sites

15 October 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA is staging a fourth and final workshop to debate four proposed landing sites for the agency’s Mars 2020 rover. A decision on where to target the rover is expected by the end of the year.

NASA troubleshooting data transmission glitch with Curiosity Mars rover

19 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Engineers are troubleshooting a data transmission glitch aboard the Curiosity Mars rover that has interrupted science operations. They are studying real-time telemetry, which is not affected, to diagnose the problem.

Curiosity panorama shows still-dusty Mars from Vera Rubin Ridge

7 September 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover paused its research last month to snap images for a spectacular 360-degree panorama showing the robot’s view from Vera Rubin Ridge on the lower slopes of Mount Sharp, revealing a still-dusty world in the aftermath of a global dust storm.

Martian dust storm makes presence known in Gale Crater

22 June 2018 Astronomy Now

The global dust storm now blanketing Mars that has at least temporarily sidelined the solar-powered Opportunity rover also is dimming the sky above Gale Crater where the Curiosity rover is hard at work