Curiosity Rover

Curiosity Rover Latest News

Recently, the Curiosity rover, part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, has found a mix of organic molecules on Mars.

About Curiosity Rover

• It is a U.S. robotic vehicle designed to explore the surface of Mars.
• It was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket Florida on Nov. 26, 2011, and landed on Aug. 5, 2012.
• It has been moving around the Gale crater and Mount Sharp on Mars
• The rover is part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission which tested a novel landing method that saw the spacecraft descend on a parachute before its landing system fired up its rockets and hovered as the rover was lowered down onto the surface. 
• Features

• • It is about 3 metres long and weighs about 900 kg.
  • It draws its electric power from a thermoelectric power generator, with the heat source being the radioactive decay of plutonium and the heat sink being Mars’s atmosphere.
• According to NASA, Curiosity has four main science goals in support of the agency’s Mars exploration program:
  • Determine whether life ever arose on Mars.
  • Characterize the climate of Mars.
  • Characterize the geology of Mars.
  • Prepare for human exploration.

Source: IE

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