Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory
{{Short description |Event timeline of the NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission}}
{{About|events|the spaceflight mission to Mars|Mars Science Laboratory|the surface rover|Curiosity (rover)}}
{{Use American English |date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=January 2022}}
File:PIA19808-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-BuckskinRock-20150805.jpg
The Mars Science Laboratory and its rover, Curiosity, were launched from Earth on 26 November 2011. As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, Curiosity has been in Gale Crater on the planet Mars for {{Curiosity Mission Timer}} sols ({{age in days|2012|08|06}} total days; {{Age in years and days|06 AUG 2012}}) since landing on 6 August 2012. (See Current status.)
Prelaunch (2004–2011)
File:MSL-Cruise Stage Test.jpg
In April 2004, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) called for scientific experiments and instruments proposals for the Mars Science Laboratory and rover mission.{{cite web|url= http://www.aerospaceguide.net/mars/science_laboratory.html |title=Mars Science Laboratory |access-date=4 February 2012 |last=Stathopoulos |first=Vic |date=October 2011 |work=Aerospace Guide}} Launch was proposed for September 2009.{{cite web|url= https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/257/feature_story_details/1269?featurestory=DA_584674 |title=Mars Science Laboratory team accomplishes mission goal by working together |access-date=2012-08-12 |first=Teri Ehresman |last=INL |publisher=Idaho National Laboratory |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120925165336/https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/257/feature_story_details/1269?featurestory=DA_584674 |archive-date=2012-09-25 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url= http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/482645main_MSL%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |title=NASA Facts - MSL |access-date=2012-08-13 |work=NASA}} By 14 December 2004, eight proposals were selected, including instruments from Russia and Spain.
Testing of components also began in late 2004, including Aerojet's monopropellant engine with the ability to throttle from 15 to 100 percent thrust with a fixed propellant inlet pressure. By November 2008 most hardware and software development was complete, and testing continued.[http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/2364.pdf 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference] (2009); [http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/2539.pdf 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference] (2010) At this point, cost overruns were approximately $400 million.[http://www.universetoday.com/2008/10/10/mars-science-laboratory-still-alive-for-now/ Mars Science Laboratory: Still Alive, For Now]. 10 October 2008. Universe Today. In December 2008, lift-off was delayed to November 2011 due to insufficient time for testing and integration.{{cite web|url= https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/msl-20081204.html|title=Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled For 2011|publisher=NASA/JPL|date=4 December 2008|access-date=3 March 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Adrian |title=Mars Science Laboratory: the budgetary reasons behind its delay: MSL: the budget story |url= http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1318/1 |work=The Space Review |date=2 March 2009 |access-date=26 January 2010 |quote=NASA first put a reliable figure of the cost of the MSL mission at the "Phase A/Phase B transition", after a preliminary design review (PDR) that approved instruments, design and engineering of the whole mission. That was in August 2006—and the Congress-approved figure was $1.63 billion. … With this request, the MSL budget had reached $1.9 billion. … NASA HQ requested JPL prepare an assessment of costs to complete the construction of MSL by the next launch opportunity (in October 2011). This figure came in around $300 million, and NASA HQ has estimated this will translate to at least $400 million (assuming reserves will be required), to launch MSL and operate it on the surface of Mars from 2012 through 2014.}}{{cite web |url=http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf |title=Audit Report: NASA'S MANAGEMENT OF THE MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY PROJECT |access-date=2012-08-13 |date=8 June 2011 |work=OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL |publisher=NASA |quote=REPORT NO. IG-11-019 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203022237/http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf |url-status=dead }}
Between 23–29 March 2009, the general public ranked nine finalist rover names (Adventure, Amelia, Journey, Perception, Pursuit, Sunrise, Vision, Wonder, and Curiosity){{Cite web|url=http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/SubmitVoteForm/index.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326013016/http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/SubmitVoteForm/index.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-03-26|title=Name The Rover|date=March 26, 2009}} through a public poll on the NASA website.{{cite web|title=Name NASA's Next Mars Rover|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/namerover/|publisher=NASA/JPL|date=27 May 2009|access-date=3 March 2021}} On 27 May 2009, the winning name was announced to be Curiosity. The name had been submitted in an essay contest by Clara Ma, a then sixth-grader from Kansas.{{r|MSLNameWebsite}}
=Landing site selection=
At the first MSL Landing Site workshop, 33 potential landing sites were identified.{{cite web|url= http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/memoranda/MSL_Eng_User_Guide_v3.pdf |title=MSL Landing Site Selection User's Guide to Engineering Constraints |access-date=29 May 2007 |date=12 June 2006 }} By the second workshop in late 2007, the list had grown to include almost 50 sites,{{Cite web|url=https://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/workshops/2nd_workshop/2nd_announcement.html|title=MSL Second Landing Site Workshop|website=marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov}} and by the end of the workshop, the list was reduced to six;{{cite web|url= http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/workshops/3rd_workshop/talks/MSL_Wkshp3_vote_chart.pdf |title=MSL Workshop Voting Chart |date=18 September 2008}}{{cite web|url= http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/?p=131 |title=Reconnaissance of MSL Sites |access-date=21 October 2008 |date=4 January 2008 |work=HiBlog |author=GuyMac}}{{cite web|url= http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/MEPAG_Newsletter(08_19C3B3.pdf |title=Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter |date=1 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721050857/http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/MEPAG_Newsletter(08_19C3B3.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 }} in November 2008, project leaders at a third workshop reduced the list to these four landing sites:{{cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/59/site-list-narrows-for-nasas-next-mars-landing/|title=Site List Narrows For NASA's Next Mars Landing|date=19 November 2008|access-date=3 March 2021|work=NASA}}{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYK8r6tlrg| title=Looking at Landing Sites for the Mars Science Laboratory| date=27 May 2009 |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=YouTube| publisher=NASA/JPL}}{{cite web |url=http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html |title=Final 7 Prospective Landing Sites |access-date=9 February 2009 |publisher=NASA |date=19 February 2009 |archive-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413014816/http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html |url-status=dead }}
A fourth landing site workshop was held in late September 2010,[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/workshops/4th_workshop/program.html Presentations for the Fourth MSL Landing Site Workshop] September 2010 and the fifth and final workshop 16–18 May 2011.[http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=36353 Second Announcement for the Final MSL Landing Site Workshop and Call for Papers] {{Webarchive|url= https://archive.today/20120908020952/http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=36353 |date=2012-09-08 }} March 2011 On 22 July 2011, it was announced that Gale Crater had been selected as the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory mission.
Launch (2011)
{{main|Mars Science Laboratory#Launch|Mars Science Laboratory#Cruise}}
File:MSL Launches to the Red Planet.ogg
MSL was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 on 26 November 2011, at 10:02 EST (15:02 UTC) aboard an Atlas V 541 provided by United Launch Alliance.
{{cite web |title=United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket Successfully Launches NASA's Mars Science Lab on Journey to Red Planet |url= http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/89/ |work=ULA Launch Information |date=2011-11-26 |publisher=United Launch Alliance |access-date=2012-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/89/ |archive-date=2013-12-07 }}[http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/spacecraft/cruiseconfig/ MSL cruise configuration] The first and second rocket stages, along with the rocket motors, were stacked on 9 October 2011, near the launch pad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.universetoday.com/89346/assembling-curiositys-rocket-to-mars/|title=Assembling Curiosity's Rocket to Mars|first=Ken|last=Kremer|date=October 9, 2011}} The fairing containing the spacecraft was transported to the launch pad on 3 November 2011.{{cite news| url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-mars-idUSTRE7A26VA20111103 |work=Reuters |first=Jane |last=Sutton |title=NASA's new Mars rover reaches Florida launch pad |date=3 November 2011}}
On 13 December 2011, the rover began monitoring space radiation to aid in planning for future crewed missions to Mars.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Dwayne |title=NASA Mars-Bound Rover Begins Research in Space |date=13 December 2011 |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-386 |work=NASA |access-date=21 August 2012 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205150143/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-386 |url-status=dead }}
The interplanetary journey to Mars took more than eight months,{{cite web|url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1185 |title=NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Launch Rescheduled for Nov. 26 |first=Allard |last=Beutel |date=19 November 2011 |publisher=NASA |access-date=21 November 2011}} time during which, the spacecraft performed four trajectory corrections: on 11 January, 26 March, 26 June and on 28 July. Mission design had allowed for a maximum of 6 trajectory correction opportunities.{{cite web|url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1292 |title=Status Report - Curiosity's Daily Update |access-date=13 August 2012 |date=6 August 2012 |publisher=NASA |quote=This morning, flight controllers decided to forgo the sixth and final opportunity on the mission calendar for a course-correction maneuver. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160916041332/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1292 |archive-date=16 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url= http://www.space.com/16972-mars-rover-curiosity-landing-mohawk-guy.html |title=Mars Rover 'Mohawk Guy' a Space Age Internet Sensation | Curiosity Rover |date=7 August 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=2012-08-08}}
Landing (2012)
{{main|Mars Science Laboratory#Entry, descent and landing (EDL)}}{{Wide image|First 360 panorama from the Curosity rover.jpg|800px|First 360-degree panoramic view of Mars taken by the Curiosity rover (7 August 2012).[http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_397682534EDR_F0020000AUT_04096M_&s=2 Mars Science Laboratory: Raw Images][http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_397673010EDR_F0010008AUT_04096M_&s=2 Mars Science Laboratory: Raw Images]}}Curiosity landed in the Gale Crater at 05:17 UTC on 6 August 2012.{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Touchdown! Huge NASA Rover Lands on Mars |url= http://www.space.com/16932-mars-rover-curiosity-landing-success.html |date=6 August 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=14 December 2012 }}{{cite web|url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html |title=Curiosity: NASA's Next Mars Rover |date=6 August 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=6 August 2012}}{{cite web |title=MSL Sol 3 Update| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f8HHQ2U2jg| publisher=NASA Television| access-date=9 August 2012| date=8 August 2012}}{{cite news |url= http://www.spaceflight101.com/msl-mission-updates-3.html |title=MSL Mission Updates |newspaper=Spaceflight101.com |date=6 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120825095610/http://www.spaceflight101.com/msl-mission-updates-3.html |archive-date=25 August 2012 }} Upon reaching Mars, an automated precision landing sequence took over the entire landing events.{{cite web|url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/spacecraft/cruiseconfig/ |title=MSL - Cruise Configuration |access-date=2012-08-08 |author=NASA |work=JPL}} A cable cutter separated the cruise stage from the aeroshell and then the cruise stage was diverted into a trajectory for burn-up in the atmosphere.{{cite book |author=Dahya, N. |title=2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference |pages=1–6 |date=1–8 March 2008 |publisher=IEEE Explore| doi=10.1109/AERO.2008.4526539 |isbn=978-1-4244-1487-1 |chapter=Design and Fabrication of the Cruise Stage Spacecraft for MSL |s2cid=21599522 }}{{cite web|url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/edlcuriosity/ |title=Follow Curiosity's descent to Mars |access-date=2012-08-23 |date=2012 |work=NASA |quote=Animation |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120821024425/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/edlcuriosity/ |archive-date=2012-08-21 }} Landing was confirmed simultaneously by 3 monitoring Mars orbiters. Curiosity landed on target and only {{convert|2.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} from its center.{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Amos |title=Curiosity rover made near-perfect landing |date=11 August 2012 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19219782 |work=BBC News |access-date=2012-08-14}} The coordinates of the landing site (named "Bradbury Landing") are: {{coord|4.5895|S|137.4417|E|globe:Mars}}.{{cite web |author=MSNBC Staff |title=Video from rover looks down on Mars during landing |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna48540619 |date=6 August 2012 |work=NBC News |access-date=7 October 2012 }}{{cite web |last=Young |first=Monica |title=Watch Curiosity Descend onto Mars |url= http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/165273796.html |date=7 August 2012 |publisher=SkyandTelescope.com |access-date=7 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121209035852/http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/165273796.html |archive-date=9 December 2012 }}
Some low resolution Hazcam images were beamed to Earth by relay orbiters confirming the rover's wheels were deployed correctly and on the ground.{{cite news |title=Mars Rover Beams Back Images Showing Its Descent |date=6 August 2012 |url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120806c.html |work=NASA |access-date=2012-08-15}} Three hours later, the rover begins to beam detailed data on its systems' status as well as on its entry, descent and landing experience. Aerial 3-D images of the landing site are available and include: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130512005245/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Rover3D-pia16208-br2.jpg the Curiosity rover] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012939/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Parachute3D-pia16209-br2.jpg related Parachute] (HiRISE, 10 October 2012).
On 8 August 2012, Mission Control began upgrading the rover's dual computers by deleting the entry-descent-landing software, then uploading and installing the surface operation software;[https://science.time.com/2012/08/09/the-curiosity-rover-preps-for-big-plans-after-its-daring-decent/?iid=sci-main-lede?xid=gonewsedit The Curiosity Rover Preps for Big Plans After its Daring Descent] Time. 9 August 2012 the switchover was completed by 15 August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48668419/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815064616/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48668419/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-08-15|title=Mars rover survives 'brain transplant' - Technology & science - Space - Space.com - NBCNews.com|date=August 15, 2012}}
Prime mission (2012 - September 2014)
{{see also|Glenelg, Mars}}
{{multiple image
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| header = Atmospheric values measured by the Curiosity rover at Gale Crater on Mars between August 2012 and February 2013.
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| image1 = PIA16913-MarsCuriosityRover-SteadyTemperature-GaleCrater.jpg
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| image2 = PIA16912-MarsCuriosityRover-SeasonalPressure-GaleCrater.jpg
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On 15 August 2012, the rover began several days of instrument checks and mobility tests.{{cite news |author=Harwood, William |title=Rover software updated, first driving tests on tap |date=14 August 2012 |url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57493178-76/rover-software-updated-first-driving-tests-on-tap/ |work=C-Net News |access-date=2012-08-15}}[http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/firstdrive/ First drive] The first laser testing of the ChemCam by Curiosity on Mars was performed on a rock, N165 ("Coronation" rock), near Bradbury Landing on 19 August 2012.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Agle |first2=D.C. |title=Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Mission Status Report |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-248 |date=19 August 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=3 September 2012 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title='Coronation' Rock on Mars |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4492 |publisher=NASA |access-date=3 September 2012 }}{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |title=Nasa's Curiosity rover prepares to zap Martian rocks |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19302886 |date=17 August 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=3 September 2012 }}
The science and operations teams have identified at least six possible routes to the base of Mount Sharp, and estimate about a year studying the rocks and soil of the crater floor while Curiosity slowly makes its way to the base of the mountain.{{cite news |title=Mars rover could start moving in a week |date=15 August 2012 |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/14/us/mars-curiosity/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 |work=CNN News |access-date=2012-08-15}} The ChemCam team expects to take approximately one dozen compositional measurements of rocks per day.{{cite web|url= http://www.msl-chemcam.com/index.php?menu=inc&page_consult=textes&rubrique=64&sousrubrique=224&soussousrubrique=0 |title=How Does ChemCam Work? |access-date=2012-08-20 |date=2011 |work=ChemCam Team}}
Having completed its mobility tests, the rover's first drive began on 29 August 2012, to a place called Glenelg about {{convert|400|m |ft|abbr=on}} to the east.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Dwayne |title=NASA Curiosity Rover Begins Eastbound Trek on Martian Surface |date=29 August 2012 |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-269 |work=JPL |access-date=2012-08-30}} Glenelg is a location where three types of terrain intersect, and is the mission's first major driving destination. The drive across may take up to two months, after which Curiosity will stay at Glenelg for a month.{{cite news |last=Zakutnyaya |first=Olga |title=Curiosity expected to boost Martian science worldwide |date=21 August 2012 |url= http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_21/Curiosity-expected-to-boost-Martian-science-worldwide/ |work=The Voice of Russia |access-date=21 August 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120823231851/http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_21/Curiosity-expected-to-boost-Martian-science-worldwide/ |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}
On the way, Curiosity studied a pyramidal rock dubbed "Jake Matijevic" after a mathematician-turned-rover-engineer who played a critical role in the design of the six-wheeled rover, but died just days after Curiosity landed in August.
{{cite web |last=Doyle |first=Kathryn |url= http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/curiosity-ready-to-blast-rocks-and-study-moons-12868558 |title=Curiosity Ready to Blast Rocks and Study Moons |access-date=2012-09-19 |date=2012 |work=Popular Mechanics}} The Jake rock measures about {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide.{{cite news |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Mars rover targets a rock called Jake |date=19 September 2012 |url= http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/19/13967230-mars-rover-targets-a-rock-called-jake |work=Cosmic Log on NBC News |access-date=2012-09-19}} It is an igneous rock and may be a mugearite, a sodium rich oligoclase-bearing basaltic trachyandesite.{{Cite web|last=Amos |first=Jonathan |title=Cosmic coincidence on the road to Glenelg |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/19979798 |date=17 October 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 October 2012 }} Afterwards, on 30 September 2012, a finely-grained rock, named "Bathurst Inlet", was examined by Curiosity{{'s}} Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS). The rock was named after Bathurst Inlet, a deep inlet located along the northern coast of the Canadian mainland. Also, a sand patch, named "Rocknest", is a test target for the first use of the scoop on the arm of the Curiosity rover.{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Curiosity Rover to Scoop Up 1st Mars Samples This Weekend |url= http://www.space.com/17896-mars-rover-curiosity-first-scoop-samples.html |date=4 October 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=5 October 2012 }}
=Evidence for ancient water=
{{multiple image
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| caption1 = "Link" rock outcrop on Mars, which has been compared with a terrestrial fluvial conglomerate. It suggests water "vigorously" flowed in a stream.
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| caption2 = "Hottah" rock outcrop on Mars - an ancient streambed viewed by the Curiosity rover (14 September 2012) ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/figures/PIA16156_fig1.jpg close-up]) ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130521042719/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/pia16223-stereoHattah-Mastcam-br2.jpg 3-D version]).
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| caption3 = "Link" rock outcrop on Mars - compared with a terrestrial fluvial conglomerate - suggesting water "vigorously" flowed in a stream.
}}
On 27 September 2012, NASA scientists announced that the Curiosity rover found evidence for an ancient streambed suggesting a "vigorous flow" of water on Mars.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Cole |first2=Steve |last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Agle |first4=D.C. |title=NASA Rover Finds Old Streambed On Martian Surface |url= http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/sep/HQ_12-338_Mars_Water_Stream.html |date=27 September 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=28 September 2012 }}{{cite web |author=NASA |author-link=NASA |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Old Streambed on Mars - video (51:40) |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYo31XjoXOk |date=27 September 2012 |publisher=NASAtelevision |access-date=28 September 2012 }}{{cite web |last=Chang|first=Alicia |title=Mars rover Curiosity finds signs of ancient stream| url= http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120927/DA1IDOO00.html |date=27 September 2012 |publisher=AP News|access-date=27 September 2012 }}
On 7 October 2012, a mysterious "bright object" (image), discovered in the sand at Rocknest, drew scientific interest. Several close-up pictures ([http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/proj/msl/redops/ods/surface/sol/00062/opgs/edr/ccam/CR0_403005421EDR_F0050104CCAM01062M_.JPG close-up 1]) ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16230.jpg close-up 2]) were taken of the object and preliminary interpretations by scientists suggest the object to be "debris from the spacecraft".{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Yum! Curiosity Rover Swallows 1st Mars Sample, Finds Odd Bright Stuff |url= http://www.space.com/18122-mars-rover-curiosity-swallows-soil-sample.html|date=18 October 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=19 October 2012 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Small Debris on the Ground Beside Curiosity |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4806 |date=15 October 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=15 October 2012 }}{{cite web |last=Major |first=Jason|title=Curiosity Finds…SOMETHING…on Martian Surface|url= http://www.universetoday.com/97774/curiosity-finds-something-on-martian-surface/|date=9 October 2012|publisher=UniverseToday |access-date=9 October 2012 }} Nonetheless, further images in the nearby sand have detected other "bright particles" ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16229.jpg image]) ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16233.jpg close-up 1]). These newly discovered objects are presently thought to be "native Martian material".{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Bright Particle in Hole Dug by Scooping of Martian Soil |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4817|date=18 October 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=18 October 2012 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Bright Particle of Martian Origin in Scoop Hole |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4807 |date=15 October 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=15 October 2012 }}
On 17 October 2012, at Rocknest, the first X-ray diffraction analysis of Martian soil was performed. The results revealed the presence of several minerals, including feldspar, pyroxenes and olivine, and suggested that the Martian soil in the sample was similar to the weathered basaltic soils of Hawaiian volcanoes. The sample used is composed of dust distributed from global dust storms and local fine sand. So far, the materials Curiosity has analyzed are consistent with the initial ideas of deposits in Gale Crater recording a transition through time from a wet to dry environment.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Dwayne |title=NASA Rover's First Soil Studies Help Fingerprint Martian Minerals|url= http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_12-383_Curiosity_CheMin.html |date=30 October 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=31 October 2012}}
On 22 November 2012, the Curiosity rover analyzed a rock named "Rocknest 3" with the APXS and then resumed traveling toward "Point Lake" overlook on its way to Glenelg Intrigue.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Thanksgiving on Mars: Working Holiday for Curiosity Rover |url= http://www.space.com/18594-mars-thanksgiving-curiosity-rover.html |date=22 November 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=22 November 2012 }}
On 3 December 2012, NASA reported that Curiosity performed its first extensive soil analysis, revealing the presence of water molecules, sulfur and chlorine in the Martian soil.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Webster |first2=Guy |last3=Neal-Jones |first3=Nancy |title=NASA Mars Rover Fully Analyzes First Martian Soil Samples |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1399 |date=3 December 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160823211438/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1399 |archive-date=23 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Ken |title=Mars Rover Discovery Revealed |url= http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/mars-rover-discovery-revealed |date=3 December 2012 |work=New York Times |access-date=3 December 2012 }} The presence of perchlorates in the sample seems highly likely. The presence of sulfate and sulfide is also likely because sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide were detected. Small amounts of chloromethane, dichloromethane and trichloromethane were detected. The source of the carbon in these molecules is unclear. Possible sources include contamination of the instrument, organics in the sample and inorganic carbonates.
=Evidence for ancient habitability=
In February 2013, the rover used its drill for the first time.{{Cite web|url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1423|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213041314/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1423|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-13|title=Mars Science Laboratory: NASA Curiosity Rover Collects First Martian Bedrock Sample|date=February 13, 2013}}
{{multiple image
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| caption1 = Curiosity at its first drilling site.
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| caption6 = Drill hole - before/after.
}}
In March 2013, NASA reported Curiosity found evidence that geochemical conditions in Gale Crater were once suitable for microbial life after analyzing the first drilled sample of Martian rock, "John Klein" rock at Yellowknife Bay in Gale Crater. The rover detected water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.{{cite web |last1=Agle |first1=DC |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-092 |publisher=NASA |date=12 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013}}{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Mars Could Once Have Supported Life: What You Need to Know |url= http://www.space.com/20187-ancient-mars-life-curiosity-faq.html |date=12 March 2013 |work=Space.com |access-date=12 March 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Could Once Have Supported Life, NASA Says |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/science/space/mars-could-have-supported-life-nasa-says.html |date=12 March 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=12 March 2013 }} Chloromethane and dichloromethane were also detected. Related tests found results consistent with the presence of smectite clay minerals.{{cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |title=Mars rover finds habitable environment in distant past |url= http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/msl/130312life/ |date=12 March 2013 |work=Spaceflightnow |access-date=12 March 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Grenoble |first=Ryan |title=Life On Mars Evidence? NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Essential Ingredients In Ancient Rock Sample |url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/life-on-mars-evidence-nasa-curiosity_n_2861505.html |date=12 March 2013 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=12 March 2013 }} In addition, sandstone beds associated with the Gillespie Lake Member of Yellowknife Bay seem similar to microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) found on Earth, according to one study.{{cite journal |last=Nora |first=Noffke |author-link=Nora Noffke |title=Ancient Sedimentary Structures in the <3.7 Ga Gillespie Lake Member, Mars, That Resemble Macroscopic Morphology, Spatial Associations, and Temporal Succession in Terrestrial Microbialites |date=14 February 2015 |journal=Astrobiology |volume=15 |issue=2 |doi=10.1089/ast.2014.1218 |pmid=25495393 |bibcode=2015AsBio..15..169N |pages=169–192}}
=Evidence for atmospheric loss=
On 8 April 2013, NASA reported that much of the atmosphere of Mars has been lost based on argon isotope ratios studies.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Remaining Martian Atmosphere Still Dynamic |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1461 |date=8 April 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=9 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164204/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1461 |archive-date=13 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike|title=Most of Mars' Atmosphere Is Lost in Space|url= http://www.space.com/20560-mars-atmosphere-lost-curiosity-rover.html |date=8 April 2013|work=Space.com |access-date=9 April 2013 }}
On 19 July 2013, NASA scientists published the results of a new analysis of the atmosphere of Mars, reporting a lack of methane around the landing site of the Curiosity rover. In addition, the scientists found evidence that Mars "has lost a good deal of its atmosphere over time", based on the abundance of isotopic compositions of gases, particularly those related to argon and carbon.{{cite magazine |last=Mann |first=Adam |title=Mars Rover Finds Good News for Past Life, Bad News for Current Life on Mars|url= https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/07/curiosity-mars-atmosphere |date=18 July 2013|magazine=Wired |access-date=19 July 2013 }}{{cite journal|author=Webster Chris R. |title=Isotope Ratios of H, C, and O in CO2 and H2O of the Martian Atmosphere|date=19 July 2013|journal=Science|volume=341 |number=6143 |pages=260–263|doi=10.1126/science.1237961 |display-authors=etal |pmid=23869013|bibcode=2013Sci...341..260W|s2cid=206548962|url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/102999/1/260.full.pdf}}{{cite journal |author=Mahaffy, Paul R. |title=Abundance and Isotopic Composition of Gases in the Martian Atmosphere from the Curiosity Rover| date=19 July 2013 |journal=Science |volume=341 |number=6143 |pages=263–266|doi=10.1126/science.1237966|display-authors=etal |bibcode=2013Sci...341..263M |pmid=23869014|s2cid=206548973}}
=Other 2013 events=
File:PIA16818-MarsCuriosityRover-Argon-AtmosphericLoss.png are used to estimate atmospheric loss on Mars. (Curiosity rover, April, 2013)]]
On 28 February 2013, NASA was forced to switch to the backup computer due to an issue with the then active computer's flash memory which resulted in the computer continuously rebooting in a loop. The backup computer was turned on in safe mode and was converted to operational status on 19 March 2013.{{cite web |last=Webster|first=Guy |title=New 'Safe Mode' Status of Curiosity Expected to be Brief - Mission Status Report - 03.18.13|url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130318b.html |date=18 March 2013 |work=NASA|access-date=19 March 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Fountain |first=Henry |title=Mars Rover Is Repaired, NASA Says|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/science/space/on-mars-curiosity-rover-repaired-nasa-says.html |date=19 March 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=19 March 2013 }}
On 18 March 2013, NASA reported evidence of mineral hydration, likely hydrated calcium sulfate, in several rock samples including the broken fragments of "Tintina" rock and "Sutton Inlier" rock as well as in veins and nodules in other rocks like "Knorr" rock and "Wernicke" rock.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=Curiosity Mars Rover Sees Trend In Water Presence |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1446 |date=18 March 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=20 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424111259/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1446 |archive-date=24 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Rincon |first=Paul |title=Curiosity breaks rock to reveal dazzling white interior |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21340279 |date=19 March 2013 |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 March 2013 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Red planet coughs up a white rock, and scientists freak out |url= http://now.msn.com/white-mars-rock-called-tintina-found-by-curiosity-rover |date=20 March 2013 |work=MSN |access-date=20 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130323164757/http://now.msn.com/white-mars-rock-called-tintina-found-by-curiosity-rover |archive-date=23 March 2013 }} Analysis using the rover's DAN instrument provided evidence of subsurface water, amounting to as much as 4% water content, down to a depth of {{convert|60|cm|ft|abbr=on}}, in the rover's traverse from the Bradbury Landing site to the Yellowknife Bay area in the Glenelg terrain.
File:PIA16791-MarsCuriosityRover-Composition-YellowknifeBayRocks.png - rock veins are higher in calcium and sulfur than "Portage" soil - APXS results - Curiosity rover (March, 2013).]]
Between 4 April – 1 May 2013, Curiosity operated autonomously due to a Martian solar conjunction with Earth. While Curiosity transmitted a beep to Earth each day and the Odyssey spacecraft continued to relay information from the rover, no commands were sent from mission control since there was a possibility of data corruption due to interference from the Sun. Curiosity continued to perform stationary science at Yellowknife Bay for the duration of the conjunction.{{cite news|url= http://www.space.com/20501-mars-rover-curiosity-solar-conjunction.html |title=Curiosity Rover Goes Solo on Mars for 1st Time Today |work=Space.com |first=Mike |last=Wall |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013}}
On 5 June 2013, NASA announced that Curiosity will soon begin a {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} journey from the Glenelg area to the base of Mount Sharp. The trip is expected to take nine months to a year with stops along the way to study the local terrain.{{cite web |author=Staff|title=From 'Glenelg' to Mount Sharp |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=5326 |date=5 June 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=6 June 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Alicia |title=Curiosity rover to head toward Mars mountain soon |url= http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130605/DA6NQG0G2.html |date=5 June 2013 |work=AP News |access-date=7 June 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Martian Rock Another Clue to a Once Water-Rich Planet|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/science/space/martian-rock-another-clue-to-a-once-water-rich-planet.html|date=7 June 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=7 June 2013 }}
On 16 July 2013, the Curiosity rover reached a milestone in its journey across Mars, having traveled {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on}}, since its landing in 2012;{{cite web |author=Staff |title=One Down, Many Kilometers to Go |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA17279 |publisher=NASA |date=16 July 2013 |access-date=19 July 2013}} on 1 August 2013, the rover traveled over one mile: {{convert|1.686|km|mi|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA17085: Full Curiosity Traverse Passes One-Mile Mark |url= http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA17085 |date=2 August 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=2 August 2013 }}
On 6 August 2013, NASA celebrated Curiosity{{'s}} first year on Mars (6 August 2012 to 5 August 2013) by programming the rover to perform the "Happy Birthday" song to itself.{{cite news |last=Dewey |first=Caitlin |title=Lonely Curiosity rover sings 'Happy Birthday' to itself on Mars |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/06/lonely-curiosity-rover-sings-happy-birthday-to-itself-on-mars/ |date=6 August 2013 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=7 August 2013 }}{{cite web |last=Koren |first=Marina |title=Why the Curiosity Rover Stopped Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Itself |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/why-the-curiosity-rover-stopped-singing-happy-birthday-to-itself/536487/ |date=10 August 2017 |work=The Atlantic |access-date=11 August 2017 }} NASA also released several videos ([http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/movies/msl20130801/msl20130801-480.mov video-1], [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/movies/msl20130802/msl20130802-480.mov video-2]) summarizing the rover's accomplishments over the year.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=An Earth Year on Mars |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/science/space/an-earth-year-on-mars.html |date=5 August 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=5 August 2013 }}{{cite news |last1=Corum |first1=Jonathan |last2=White |first2=Jeremy |title=Mars Curiosity Rover Tracker - Front-Page Interactive Feature |url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/science/space/mars-curiosity-rover-tracker.html |date=5 August 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=5 August 2013 }} Primarily, the mission found evidence of "ancient environments suitable for life" on Mars. The rover drove over one-mile across the Martian terrain, transmitted more than 190 gigabits of data to Earth, including 70,000 images (36,700 full images and 35,000 thumbnails), and the rover's laser fired more than 75,000 times at 2,000 targets.
On 27 August 2013, Curiosity used autonomous navigation (or "autonav"- the ability of the rover to decide for itself how to drive safely) over unknown Martian ground for the first time.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=NASA's Mars Curiosity Debuts Autonomous Navigation |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1514 |date=27 August 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161028020036/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1514 |archive-date=28 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}
File:PIA17603 Erosion by Scarp Retreat in Gale Crater, Annotated Version.jpg" mudstone (lower left) and surroundings (February 14, 2013).]]
On 19 September 2013, NASA scientists, on the basis of further measurements by Curiosity, reported no detection of atmospheric methane with a measured value of {{val|0.18|0.67}} ppbv corresponding to an upper limit of only 1.3 ppbv (95% confidence limit) and, as a result, conclude that the probability of current methanogenic microbial activity on Mars is reduced.{{cite journal |last1=Webster|first1=Christopher R. |last2=Mahaffy |first2=Paul R. |last3=Atreya |first3=Sushil K. |last4=Flesch|first4=Gregory J. |last5=Farley |first5=Kenneth A. |last6=Kemppinen |first6=O. |last7=Bridges |first7=N. |last8=Johnson |first8=J. R. |last9=Minitti |first9=M. |last10=Cremers |first10=D. |last11=Bell |first11=J. F. |last12=Edgar |first12=L. |last13=Farmer |first13=J. |last14=Godber |first14=A. |last15=Wadhwa |first15=M. |author15-link=Meenakshi Wadhwa |last16=Wellington |first16=D. |last17=McEwan |first17=I. |last18=Newman |first18=C. |last19=Richardson |first19=M. |last20=Charpentier |first20=A. |last21=Peret |first21=L. |last22=King |first22=P. |last23=Blank |first23=J. |last24=Weigle |first24=G. |last25=Schmidt |first25=M. |last26=Li |first26=S. |last27=Milliken |first27=R. |last28=Robertson |first28=K. |last29=Sun |first29=V. |last30=Baker |first30=M. |title=Low Upper Limit to Methane Abundance on Mars|date=19 September 2013|journal=Science |volume=342 |issue=6156 |pages=355–357 |doi=10.1126/science.1242902 |display-authors=29 |bibcode=2013Sci...342..355W |pmid=24051245|s2cid=43194305 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last=Cho |first=Adrian |title=Mars Rover Finds No Evidence of Burps and Farts |url= http://news.sciencemag.org/space/2013/09/mars-rover-finds-no-evidence-burps-and-farts
|date=19 September 2013 |journal=Science |access-date=19 September 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Rover Comes Up Empty in Search for Methane|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/science/space/mars-rover-comes-up-empty-in-search-for-methane.html|date=19 September 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=19 September 2013 }}
On 26 September 2013, NASA scientists reported the Mars Curiosity rover detected "abundant, easily accessible" water (1.5 to 3 weight percent) in soil samples at the Rocknest region of Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater.{{cite web |last=Lieberman |first=Josh |title=Mars Water Found: Curiosity Rover Uncovers 'Abundant, Easily Accessible' Water In Martian Soil |url= http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/6131/20130926/mars-water-soil-nasa-curiosity-rover-martian.htm |date=26 September 2013 |work=iSciencetimes |access-date=26 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170623005252/http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/6131/20130926/mars-water-soil-nasa-curiosity-rover-martian.htm |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal |author=Leshin, L. A |title=Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover |date=27 September 2013 |journal=Science |volume=341 |issue=6153
|doi=10.1126/science.1238937|last2=Mahaffy |first2=P. R. |display-authors=1 |last3=Webster |last4=Cabane |last5=Coll |last6=Conrad |last7=Archer |last8=Atreya |last9=Brunner |last10=Buch |last11=Eigenbrode |last12=Flesch |last13=Franz |last14=Freissinet |last15=Glavin |last16=McAdam |last17=Miller |last18=Ming |last19=Morris |last20=Navarro-Gonzalez |last21=Niles |last22=Owen |last23=Pepin |last24=Squyres |last25=Steele |last26=Stern |last27=Summons |last28=Sumner |last29=Sutter |last30=Szopa |last31=Teinturier |last32=Trainer |last33=Wray |last34=Grotzinger |author35=MSL Science Team |pages=1238937 |pmid=24072926|bibcode=2013Sci...341E...3L |citeseerx=10.1.1.397.4959 |s2cid=206549244 }}{{cite journal |last=Grotzinger |first=John|title=Introduction To Special Issue: Analysis of Surface Materials by the Curiosity Mars Rover|date=26 September 2013 |journal=Science |volume=341 |issue=6153 |page=1475 |doi=10.1126/science.1244258 |pmid=24072916|bibcode=2013Sci...341.1475G|doi-access=free }}{{cite web |last1=Neal-Jones |first1=Nancy |last2=Zubritsky |first2=Elizabeth|last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Martialay |first4=Mary |title=Curiosity's SAM Instrument Finds Water and More in Surface Sample |url= http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/curiositys-sam-instrument-finds-water-and-more-in-surface-sample/ |date=26 September 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=27 September 2013 }}{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=Science Gains From Diverse Landing Area of Curiosity |url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130926.html |date=26 September 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=27 September 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Chang|first=Kenneth |title=Hitting Pay Dirt on Mars |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/science/space/hitting-pay-dirt-on-mars.html |date=1 October 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=2 October 2013 }} In addition, NASA reported that the Curiosity rover found two principal soil types: a fine-grained mafic type and a locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type.{{cite journal |title=Soil Diversity and Hydration as Observed by ChemCam at Gale Crater, Mars |url= https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1238670 |date=26 September 2013 |journal=Science |volume=341 |issue=6153 |pages=1238670 |doi=10.1126/science.1238670|access-date=27 September 2013 |last1=Meslin |first1=P.-Y. |display-authors=1 |last2=Gasnault |first2=O. |last3=Forni |first3=O. |last4=Schroder |first4=S. |last5=Cousin |first5=A. |last6=Berger |first6=G. |last7=Clegg |first7=S. M. |last8=Lasue |first8=J. |last9=Maurice |first9=S. |last10=Sautter |first10=V. |author10-link=Violaine Sautter|last11=Le Mouelic |first11=S. |last12=Wiens |first12=R. C. |last13=Fabre |first13=C. |last14=Goetz |first14=W. |last15=Bish |first15=D. |last16=Mangold |first16=N. |last17=Ehlmann |first17=B. |last18=Lanza |first18=N. |last19=Harri |first19=A.- M. |last20=Anderson |first20=R. |last21=Rampe |first21=E. |last22=McConnochie |first22=T. H. |last23=Pinet |first23=P. |last24=Blaney |first24=D. |last25=Leveille |first25=R. |last26=Archer |first26=D. |last27=Barraclough |first27=B. |last28=Bender |first28=S. |last29=Blake |first29=D. |last30=Blank |first30=J. G. |pmid=24072924|bibcode=2013Sci...341E...1M |citeseerx=10.1.1.397.5426 |s2cid= 7418294 }} The mafic type, similar to other Martian soils and Martian dust, was associated with hydration of the amorphous phases of the soil. Also, perchlorates, the presence of which may make detection of life-related organic molecules difficult, were found at the Curiosity rover landing site (and earlier at the more polar site of the Phoenix lander) suggesting a "global distribution of these salts". NASA also reported that Jake M rock, a rock encountered by Curiosity on the way to Glenelg, was a mugearite and very similar to terrestrial mugearite rocks.{{Cite journal|last1=Stolper|first1=E.M.|last2=Baker|first2=M.B.|last3=Newcombe|first3=M.E.|last4=Schmidt|first4=M.E.|last5=Treiman|first5=A.H.|last6=Cousin|first6=A.|last7=Dyar|first7=M.D.|last8=Fisk|first8=M.R.|last9=Gellert|first9=R.|last10=King|first10=P.L.|last11=Leshin|first11=L.|last12=Maurice|first12=S.|last13=McLennan|first13=S.M.|last14=Minitti|first14=M.E.|last15=Perrett|first15=G.|last16=Rowland|first16=S.|last17=Sautter|first17=V.|author17-link=Violaine Sautter|last18=Wiens|first18=R.C.|last19=MSL ScienceTeam|first19=O.|last20=Bridges|first20=N.|last21=Johnson|first21=J. R.|last22=Cremers|first22=D.|last23=Bell|first23=J. F.|last24=Edgar|first24=L.|last25=Farmer|first25=J.|last26=Godber|first26=A.|last27=Wadhwa|first27=M.|last28=Wellington|first28=D.|last29=McEwan|first29=I.|last30=Newman|first30=C.|title=The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite|journal=Science|volume=341|issue=6153|pages=1239463|doi=10.1126/science.1239463|date=2013|display-authors=29|pmid=24072927|bibcode=2013Sci...341E...4S|s2cid=16515295|url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/41547/13/Jake_M%20Stolper%20et%20al.%20%282013%29%20Science.pdf|access-date=6 December 2019|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811150621/https://authors.library.caltech.edu/41547/13/Jake_M%20Stolper%20et%20al.%20(2013)%20Science.pdf|url-status=dead}}
On 17 October 2013, NASA reported, based on analysis of argon in the Martian atmosphere, that certain meteorites found on Earth thought to be from Mars are confirmed to be from Mars.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=NASA Rover Confirms Mars Origin of Some Meteorites |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1525 |date=17 October 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131115114647/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1525 |archive-date=15 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}
File:PIA17604-MarsCuriosityRover-ScarpRetreatModel-20131209.png by windblown sand over time on Mars (Yellowknife Bay, December 9, 2013).]]
On 13 November 2013, NASA announced the names of two features on Mars important to two active Mars exploration rovers in honor of planetary scientist Bruce C. Murray (1931-2013): "Murray Buttes", an entryway the Curiosity rover will traverse on its way to Mount Sharp and "Murray Ridge", an uplifted crater that the Opportunity rover is exploring.{{cite web|last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=Mars Rover Teams Dub Sites In Memory of Bruce Murray |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1542 |date=13 November 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=14 November 2013 }}
On 25 November 2013, NASA reported that Curiosity has resumed full science operations, with no apparent loss of capability, after completing the diagnosis of an electrical problem first observed on 17 November. Apparently, an internal short in the rover's power source, the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, caused an unusual and intermittent decrease in a voltage indicator on the rover.{{cite web|last=Webster|first=Guy |title=Rover Team Working to Diagnose Electrical Issue|url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/jpl/msl20131120.html |date=20 November 2013|work=NASA |access-date=21 November 2013 }}{{cite web|author=Staff |title=Curiosity Resumes Science After Analysis of Voltage Issue|url= http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/mars-rover-curiosity-20131125.html |date=25 November 2013|work=NASA |access-date=25 November 2013 }}
On 27 November 2013, an overview (titled, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/opinion/the-world-of-mars.html The World of Mars]") of current and proposed Mars exploration by John Grotzinger, chief scientist of the Curiosity rover mission, was published in the New York Times.{{cite news |last=Grotzinger|first=John |author-link=John Grotzinger |title=The World of Mars|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/opinion/the-world-of-mars.html |work=New York Times|date=26 November 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013 }}
On 9 December 2013, NASA reported that the planet Mars had a large freshwater lake (which could have been a hospitable environment for microbial life) based on evidence from the Curiosity rover studying Aeolis Palus near Mount Sharp in Gale Crater.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=On Mars, an Ancient Lake and Perhaps Life |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/science/space/on-mars-an-ancient-lake-and-perhaps-life.html |date=9 December 2013 |work=New York Times |access-date=9 December 2013 }}{{cite journal |author=Various |title=Science - Special Collection - Curiosity Rover on Mars |url= https://www.science.org/action/doSearch?AllField=Curiosity+Mars |date=9 December 2013 |journal=Science |access-date=9 December 2013 }}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| align = right
| width = 200
| image1 = PIA17594-MarsCuriosityRover-JohKleinMudstoneDrillHole-20130510.jpg
| image2 = PIA17599-MarsCuriosityRover-CumberlandRock-Spectra-20121209.jpg
| image3 = PIA17598-MarsCuriosityRover-Mudstone-ClayMineralStructure-20131209.jpg
| caption1 = Curiosity rover#Robotic arm into "John Klein" mudstone.
| caption2 = Spectral Analysis (SAM) of "Cumberland" mudstone.
| caption3 = Clay mineral structure of mudstone.
| footer = The Curiosity rover examines mudstone near Yellowknife Bay on Mars (May 2013).
}}
On 9 December 2013, NASA researchers described, in a series of six articles in the journal Science, many new discoveries from the Curiosity rover. Possible organics were found that could not be explained by contamination.
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars: characterization and analysis of the Rocknest sand shadow |journal=Science |volume=341 |issue=6153 |pages=1239505 |doi=10.1126/science.1239505 |display-authors=1 |last1=Blake |first1=D. F. |last2=Morris |first2=R. V. |last3=Kocurek |first3=G. |last4=Morrison |first4=S. M. |last5=Downs |first5=R. T. |last6=Bish |first6=D. |last7=Ming |first7=D. W. |last8=Edgett |first8=K. S. |last9=Rubin |first9=D. |last10=Goetz |first10=W. |last11=Madsen |first11=M. B. |last12=Sullivan |first12=R. |last13=Gellert |first13=R. |last14=Campbell |first14=I. |last15=Treiman |first15=A. H. |last16=McLennan |first16=S. M. |last17=Yen |first17=A. S. |last18=Grotzinger |first18=J. |last19=Vaniman |first19=D. T. |last20=Chipera |first20=S. J. |last21=Achilles |first21=C. N. |last22=Rampe |first22=E. B. |last23=Sumner |first23=D. |last24=Meslin |first24=P.- Y. |last25=Maurice |first25=S. |last26=Forni |first26=O. |last27=Gasnault |first27=O. |last28=Fisk |first28=M. |last29=Schmidt |first29=M. |last30=Mahaffy |first30=P. |pmid=24072928|bibcode=2013Sci...341E...5B |s2cid=14060123 |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/41551/7/Blake.SM.pdf }}
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Volatile, isotope, and organic analysis of Martian fines with the Mars Curiosity rover |journal=Science|volume=341 |issue=6153 |pages=1238937 |doi=10.1126/science.1238937 |display-authors=1 |last1=Leshin |first1=L. A. |last2=Mahaffy |first2=P. R. |last3=Webster |first3=C. R. |last4=Cabane |first4=M. |last5=Coll |first5=P. |last6=Conrad |first6=P. G. |last7=Archer |first7=P. D. |last8=Atreya |first8=S. K. |last9=Brunner |first9=A. E. |last10=Buch |first10=A. |last11=Eigenbrode |first11=J. L. |last12=Flesch |first12=G. J. |last13=Franz |first13=H. B. |last14=Freissinet |first14=C. |last15=Glavin |first15=D. P. |last16=McAdam |first16=A. C. |last17=Miller |first17=K. E. |last18=Ming |first18=D. W. |last19=Morris |first19=R. V. |last20=Navarro-Gonzalez |first20=R. |last21=Niles |first21=P. B. |last22=Owen |first22=T. |last23=Pepin |first23=R. O. |last24=Squyres |first24=S. |last25=Steele |first25=A. |last26=Stern |first26=J. C. |last27=Summons |first27=R. E. |last28=Sumner |first28=D. Y. |last29=Sutter |first29=B. |last30=Szopa |first30=C. |pmid=24072926|bibcode=2013Sci...341E...3L |citeseerx=10.1.1.397.4959 |s2cid=206549244 }} Although the organic carbon was probably from Mars, it can all be explained by dust and meteorites that have landed on the planet.
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Elemental geochemistry of sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=Science |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1244734 |doi=10.1126/science.1244734 |display-authors=1 |last1=McLennan |first1=S. M. |last2=Anderson |first2=R. B. |last3=Bell |first3=J. F. |last4=Bridges |first4=J. C. |last5=Calef |first5=F. |last6=Campbell |first6=J. L. |last7=Clark |first7=B. C. |last8=Clegg |first8=S. |last9=Conrad |first9=P. |last10=Cousin |first10=A. |last11=Des Marais |first11=D. J. |last12=Dromart |first12=G. |last13=Dyar |first13=M. D. |last14=Edgar |first14=L. A. |last15=Ehlmann |first15=B. L. |last16=Fabre |first16=C. |last17=Forni |first17=O. |last18=Gasnault |first18=O. |last19=Gellert |first19=R. |last20=Gordon |first20=S. |last21=Grant |first21=J. A. |last22=Grotzinger |first22=J. P. |last23=Gupta |first23=S. |last24=Herkenhoff |first24=K. E. |last25=Hurowitz |first25=J. A. |last26=King |first26=P. L. |last27=Le Mouelic |first27=S. |last28=Leshin |first28=L. A. |last29=Leveille |first29=R. |last30=Lewis |first30=K. W. |pmid=24324274|bibcode=2014Sci...343C.386M |hdl=2381/42019 |s2cid=36866122 |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/42646/1/McLennan_etal_Science_ms124473_Accepted.pdf |hdl-access=free }}
{{cite journal |date=1996 |title=The delivery of organic matter from asteroids and comets to the early surface of Mars |journal=Earth Moon Planets |volume=72|issue=1–3 |pages=469–474 |doi=10.1007/BF00117551 |pmid=11539472 |bibcode=1996EM&P...72..469F|last1=Flynn |first1=George J. |s2cid=189901503 }}{{cite journal |date=2000 |title=The missing organic molecules on Mars |journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |volume=97 |issue=6 |pages=2425–2430 |doi=10.1073/pnas.040539497 |pmid=10706606 |pmc=15945|last1=Benner |first1=S. A. |last2=Devine |first2=K. G. |last3=Matveeva |first3=L. N. |last4=Powell |first4=D. H. |bibcode=2000PNAS...97.2425B|doi-access=free }} Because much of the carbon was released at a relatively low temperature in Curiosity{{'s}} Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument package, it probably did not come from carbonates in the sample. The carbon could be from organisms, but this has not been proven. This organic-bearing material was obtained by drilling 5 centimeters deep in a site called Yellowknife Bay into a rock called "Sheepbed mudstone". The samples were named John Klein and Cumberland. Microbes could be living on Mars by obtaining energy from chemical imbalances between minerals in a process called chemolithotrophy which means "eating rock."
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=Science |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1242777 |doi=10.1126/science.1242777 |display-authors=1 |last1=Grotzinger |first1=J. P. |last2=Sumner |first2=D. Y. |last3=Kah |first3=L. C. |last4=Stack |first4=K. |last5=Gupta |first5=S. |last6=Edgar |first6=L. |last7=Rubin |first7=D. |last8=Lewis |first8=K. |last9=Schieber |first9=J. |last10=Mangold |first10=N. |last11=Milliken |first11=R. |last12=Conrad |first12=P. G. |last13=Desmarais |first13=D. |last14=Farmer |first14=J. |last15=Siebach |first15=K. |last16=Calef |first16=F. |last17=Hurowitz |first17=J. |last18=McLennan |first18=S. M. |last19=Ming |first19=D. |last20=Vaniman |first20=D. |last21=Crisp |first21=J. |last22=Vasavada |first22=A. |last23=Edgett |first23=K. S. |last24=Malin |first24=M. |last25=Blake |first25=D. |last26=Gellert |first26=R. |last27=Mahaffy |first27=P. |last28=Wiens |first28=R. C. |last29=Maurice |first29=S. |last30=Grant |first30=J. A. |bibcode=2014Sci...343A.386G |pmid=24324272|citeseerx=10.1.1.455.3973 |s2cid=52836398 }} However, in this process only a very tiny amount of carbon is involved — much less than was found at Yellowknife Bay.
{{cite journal|author=Kerr, R. |date=2013 |title=New Results Send Mars Rover on a Quest for Ancient Life |journal=Science |volume=342 |number=6164 |pages=1300–1301 |doi=10.1126/science.342.6164.1300 |pmid=24337267|bibcode=2013Sci...342.1300K }}
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=Science
|volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1245267 |doi=10.1126/science.1245267 |last2=Archer |first2=P. D. Jr. |display-authors=1 |last1=Ming |first1=D. W. |last3=Glavin |first3=D. P. |last4=Eigenbrode |first4=J. L. |last5=Franz |first5=H. B. |last6=Sutter |first6=B. |last7=Brunner |first7=A. E. |last8=Stern |first8=J. C. |last9=Freissinet |first9=C. |last10=McAdam |first10=A. C. |last11=Mahaffy |first11=P. R. |last12=Cabane |first12=M. |last13=Coll |first13=P. |last14=Campbell |first14=J. L. |last15=Atreya |first15=S. K. |last16=Niles |first16=P. B. |last17=Bell |first17=J. F. |last18=Bish |first18=D. L. |last19=Brinckerhoff |first19=W. B. |last20=Buch |first20=A. |last21=Conrad |first21=P. G. |last22=Des Marais |first22=D. J. |last23=Ehlmann |first23=B. L. |last24=Fairen |first24=A. G. |last25=Farley |first25=K. |last26=Flesch |first26=G. J. |last27=Francois |first27=P. |last28=Gellert |first28=R. |last29=Grant |first29=J. A. |last30=Grotzinger |first30=J. P. |pmid=24324276|bibcode=2014Sci...343E.386M |s2cid=10753737 |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/42647/1/Ming_et%20al_2013_Science_Sheepbed%20Volatiles_Accepted.pdf }}
Using SAM's mass spectrometer, scientists measured isotopes of helium, neon, and argon that cosmic rays produce as they go through rock. The fewer of these isotopes they find, the more recently the rock has been exposed near the surface. The 4-billion-year-old lakebed rock drilled by Curiosity was uncovered between 30 million and 110 million years ago by winds which sandblasted away 2 meters of overlying rock. Next, they hope to find a site tens of millions of years younger by drilling close to an overhanging outcrop.{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=In Situ Radiometric and Exposure Age Dating of the Martian Surface |journal=Science|volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1247166 |doi=10.1126/science.1247166 |display-authors=1 |last1=Farley |first1=K. A. |last2=Malespin |first2=C. |last3=Mahaffy |first3=P. |last4=Grotzinger |first4=J. P. |last5=Vasconcelos |first5=P. M. |last6=Milliken |first6=R. E. |last7=Malin |first7=M. |last8=Edgett |first8=K. S. |last9=Pavlov |first9=A. A. |last10=Hurowitz |first10=J. A. |last11=Grant |first11=J. A. |last12=Miller |first12=H. B. |last13=Arvidson |first13=R. |last14=Beegle |first14=L. |last15=Calef |first15=F. |last16=Conrad |first16=P. G. |last17=Dietrich |first17=W. E. |last18=Eigenbrode |first18=J. |last19=Gellert |first19=R. |last20=Gupta |first20=S. |last21=Hamilton |first21=V. |last22=Hassler |first22=D. M. |last23=Lewis |first23=K. W. |last24=McLennan |first24=S. M. |last25=Ming |first25=D. |last26=Navarro-Gonzalez |first26=R. |last27=Schwenzer |first27=S. P. |last28=Steele |first28=A. |last29=Stolper |first29=E. M. |last30=Sumner |first30=D. Y. |pmid=24324273|bibcode=2014Sci...343F.386H |s2cid=3207080 |doi-access=free }}
The absorbed dose and dose equivalent from galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles on the Martian surface for ~300 days of observations during the current solar maximum was measured. These measurements are necessary for human missions to the surface of Mars, to provide microbial survival times of any possible extant or past life, and to determine how long potential organic biosignatures can be preserved. This study estimates that a 1-meter depth drill is necessary to access possible viable radioresistant microbe cells. The actual absorbed dose measured by the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) is 76 mGy/yr at the surface. Based on these measurements, for a round-trip Mars surface mission with 180 days (each way) cruise, and 500 days on the Martian surface for this current solar cycle, an astronaut would be exposed to a total mission dose equivalent of ~1.01 sievert. Exposure to 1 sievert is associated with a 5 percent increase in risk for developing fatal cancer. NASA's current lifetime limit for increased risk for its astronauts operating in low-Earth orbit is 3 percent.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Understanding Mars' Past and Current Environments |url=http://spaceref.com/mars/understanding-mars-past-and-current-environments.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131220163354/http://spaceref.com/mars/understanding-mars-past-and-current-environments.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2013 |date=9 December 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=20 December 2013 }} Maximum shielding from galactic cosmic rays can be obtained with about 3 meters of Martian soil.{{cite journal|date=2013 |title=Mars' Surface Radiation Environment Measured with the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity Rover|journal=Science|volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1244797 |doi=10.1126/science.1244797 |display-authors=1 |last1=Hassler |first1=D. M. |last2=Zeitlin |first2=Cary |last3=Wimmer-Schweingruber |first3=R. F. |last4=Ehresmann |first4=B. |last5=Rafkin |first5=S. |last6=Eigenbrode |first6=J. L. |last7=Brinza |first7=D. E. |last8=Weigle |first8=G. |last9=Bottcher |first9=S. |last10=Bohm |first10=E. |last11=Burmeister |first11=S. |last12=Guo |first12=J. |last13=Kohler |first13=J. |last14=Martin |first14=C. |last15=Reitz |first15=G. |last16=Cucinotta |first16=F. A. |last17=Kim |first17=M.-H. |last18=Grinspoon |first18=D. |last19=Bullock |first19=M. A. |last20=Posner |first20=A. |last21=Gomez-Elvira |first21=J. |last22=Vasavada |first22=A. |last23=Grotzinger |first23=J. P. |last24=MSL Science Team |pmid=24324275|bibcode=2014Sci...343D.386H |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/42648/1/RAD_Surface_Results_paper_SCIENCE_12nov13_FINAL.pdf|hdl=1874/309142|s2cid=33661472}}
The samples examined were probably once mud that for millions to tens of millions of years could have hosted living organisms. This wet environment had neutral pH, low salinity, and variable redox states of both iron and sulfur species.
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Mineralogy of a mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars |journal=Science |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=1243480 |doi=10.1126/science.1243480 |display-authors=1 |last1=Vaniman |first1=D. T. |last2=Bish |first2=D. L. |last3=Ming |first3=D. W. |last4=Bristow |first4=T. F. |last5=Morris |first5=R. V. |last6=Blake |first6=D. F. |last7=Chipera |first7=S. J. |last8=Morrison |first8=S. M. |last9=Treiman |first9=A. H. |last10=Rampe |first10=E. B. |last11=Rice |first11=M. |last12=Achilles |first12=C. N. |last13=Grotzinger |first13=J. P. |last14=McLennan |first14=S. M. |last15=Williams |first15=J. |last16=Bell |first16=J. F. |last17=Newsom |first17=H. E. |last18=Downs |first18=R. T. |last19=Maurice |first19=S. |last20=Sarrazin |first20=P. |last21=Yen |first21=A. S. |last22=Morookian |first22=J. M. |last23=Farmer |first23=J. D. |last24=Stack |first24=K. |last25=Milliken |first25=R. E. |last26=Ehlmann |first26=B. L. |last27=Sumner |first27=D. Y. |last28=Berger |first28=G. |last29=Crisp |first29=J. A. |last30=Hurowitz |first30=J. A. |pmid=24324271|bibcode=2014Sci...343B.386V |s2cid=9699964 |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/42649/7/Vaniman1243480s%20Supplemental%20material%20revised%20Nov%20final.pdf }}
{{cite journal |date=2006 |title=Global mineralogical and aqueous mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars Express data. |journal=Science |volume=312|issue=5772 |pages=400–404 |doi=10.1126/science.1122659 |pmid=16627738 |display-authors=1 |last1=Bibring |first1=J. P. |last2=Langevin |first2=Yves |last3=Mustard |first3=J. F. |last4=Poulet |first4=F |last5=Arvidson |first5=R |last6=Gendrin |first6=A |last7=Gondet |first7=B |last8=Mangold |first8=N |last9=Pinet |first9=P |last10=Forget |first10=F |last11=Berthé |first11=M |last12=Bibring |first12=J. P. |last13=Gendrin |first13=A |last14=Gomez |first14=C |last15=Gondet |first15=B |last16=Jouglet |first16=D |last17=Poulet |first17=F |last18=Soufflot |first18=A |last19=Vincendon |first19=M |last20=Combes |first20=M |last21=Drossart |first21=P |last22=Encrenaz |first22=T |last23=Fouchet |first23=T |last24=Merchiorri |first24=R |last25=Belluci |first25=G |last26=Altieri |first26=F |last27=Formisano |first27=V |last28=Capaccioni |first28=F |last29=Cerroni |first29=P |last30=Coradini |first30=A |bibcode=2006Sci...312..400B |doi-access=free }}
{{cite journal |date=2005 |title=Sedimentary rocks and Meridiani Planum: Origin, diagenesis, and implications for life of Mars. Earth Planet |journal=Sci. Lett. |volume=240 |pages=1–10|doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2005.09.038 |bibcode=2005E&PSL.240....1S|last1=Squyres |first1=Steven W. |last2=Knoll |first2=Andrew H. |issue=1 }} These types of iron and sulfur could have been used by living organisms.{{cite journal |author=Nealson, K. |author2=P. Conrad. |date=1999 |title=Life: past, present and future. |journal=Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B |volume=354 |issue=1392 |pages=1923–1939 |doi=10.1098/rstb.1999.0532 |pmid=10670014 |pmc=1692713 }} C, H, O, S, N, and P were measured directly as key biogenic elements, and by inference, P is assumed to have been there as well. The two samples, John Klein and Cumberland, contain basaltic minerals, Ca-sulfates, Fe oxide/hydroxides, Fe-sulfides, amorphous material, and trioctahedral smectites (a type of clay). Basaltic minerals in the mudstone are similar to those in nearby aeolian deposits. However, the mudstone has far less Fe-forsterite plus magnetite, so Fe-forsterite (type of olivine) was probably altered to form smectite (a type of clay) and magnetite.
{{cite journal |date=1994 |title=Aqueous alteration of the Bali CV3 chondrite: Evidence from mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and oxygen isotopic compositions. |journal=Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta|volume=58 |issue=24 |pages=5589–5598 |doi=10.1016/0016-7037(94)90252-6 |bibcode=1994GeCoA..58.5589K |pmid=11539152 |display-authors=1 |last1=Keller |first1=Lindsay P. |last2=Thomas |first2=Kathie L. |last3=Clayton |first3=Robert N. |last4=Mayeda |first4=Toshiko K. |last5=Dehart |first5=John M. |last6=McKay |first6=David S. }} A Late Noachian/Early Hesperian or younger age indicates that clay mineral formation on Mars extended beyond Noachian time; therefore, in this location neutral pH lasted longer than previously thought.
On 20 December 2013, NASA reported that Curiosity has successfully upgraded, for the third time since landing, its software programs and is now operating with version 11. The new software is expected to provide the rover with better robotic arm and autonomous driving abilities. Due to wheel wear, a concern to drive more carefully over the rough terrain the rover is currently traveling on to Mount Sharp, was also reported.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Curiosity Team Upgrades Software, Checks Wheel Wear - Mars Science Laboratory Mission Status Report|url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-374 |date=20 December 2013 |work=NASA|access-date=23 December 2013 }}
=Search for ancient life=
On 24 January 2014, NASA reported that current studies by the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers will now be searching for evidence of ancient life, including a biosphere based on autotrophic, chemotrophic and/or chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms, as well as ancient water, including fluvio-lacustrine environments (plains related to ancient rivers or lakes) that may have been habitable.
{{cite journal |last=Grotzinger |first=John P.|title=Introduction to Special Issue - Habitability, Taphonomy, and the Search for Organic Carbon on Mars|journal=Science |date=24 January 2014 |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=386–387 |doi=10.1126/science.1249944 |bibcode=2014Sci...343..386G |pmid=24458635|doi-access=free }}
{{cite journal |author=Various |title=Special Issue - Table of Contents - Exploring Martian Habitability |url= https://www.science.org/toc/science/343/6169|date=24 January 2014|journal=Science |volume=343 |number=6169 |pages=345–452|access-date=24 January 2014 }}{{cite journal |author=Various |title=Special Collection - Curiosity - Exploring Martian Habitability|url= https://www.science.org/action/doSearch?AllField=Curiosity+Mars|date=24 January 2014 |journal=Science |access-date=24 January 2014 }} The search for evidence of habitability, taphonomy (related to fossils), and organic carbon on the planet Mars is now a primary NASA objective.
=Arrival at Mount Sharp=
{{see also|Mount Sharp#Curiosity mission}}{{wide image|PIA18782-MarsCuriosityRover-GeologyMap-LowerMountSharp-20140911.png|800px|align-cap=center|Geology map - from the crater floor in Aeolis Palus up the Slopes of Mount Sharp
(11 September 2014).}}
On 11 September 2014 (Sol 746), Curiosity reached the slopes of Aeolis Mons (or Mount Sharp), the rover mission's long-term prime destination{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Agle |first2=DC |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover Arrives at Martian Mountain |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-307 |date=11 September 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=10 September 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=After a Two-Year Trek, NASA's Mars Rover Reaches Its Mountain Lab |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/science/space/after-a-two-year-trek-nasa-mars-rover-reaches-its-mountain-lab.html |date=11 September 2014 |work=New York Times |access-date=12 September 2014 }} and where the rover is expected to learn more about the history of Mars.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Mars Curiosity Landing: Relive the Excitement |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1503 |date=6 August 2013 |work=NASA |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130911053938/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1503 |archive-date=11 September 2013 |url-status=dead }} Curiosity had traveled an estimated linear distance of {{convert|6.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the mountain slopes since leaving its "start" point in Yellowknife Bay on 4 July 2013.
=Detection of organics=
{{See also|Atmosphere of Mars#Methane}}
On 16 December 2014, NASA reported the Curiosity rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of methane in the Martian atmosphere. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Neal-Jones |first2=Nancy |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-432 |date=16 December 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=16 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title='A Great Moment': Rover Finds Clue That Mars May Harbor Life |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/science/a-new-clue-in-the-search-for-life-on-mars.html |date=16 December 2014 |work=New York Times |access-date=16 December 2014 }} In addition, high levels of organic chemicals, particularly chlorobenzene, were detected in powder drilled from one of the rocks, named "Cumberland", analyzed by the Curiosity rover.
=Other 2014 events=
{{multiple image
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| image1 = PIA17751-MarsCuriosityRover-DentedWheelAfter3Miles-20131130.jpg
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| caption1 = NOV-2013 - Curiosity{{'s}} wheel - dents and holes - 3 miles on Mars (30 November 2013).
| image2 = MarsCuriosityRover-WornWheel-20140218.jpg
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| caption2 = FEB-2014 - Curiosity{{'s}} wheel - dents and holes - 3 miles on Mars (18 February 2014).
}}
On 6 February 2014, the Curiosity rover, in order to reduce wear on its wheels by avoiding rougher terrain,{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Mars Science Laboratory Mission Status Report |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-028 |date=29 January 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=8 February 2014 }} successfully crossed (image) the "Dingo Gap" sand dune and is now expected to travel a smoother route to Mount Sharp.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Through the Gap: Curiosity Mars Rover Crosses Dune |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-035 |date=6 February 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=8 February 2014 }}
On 19 May 2014, scientists announced that numerous microbes, like Tersicoccus phoenicis, may be resistant to methods usually used in spacecraft assembly clean rooms. It's not currently known if such resistant microbes could have withstood space travel and are present on the Curiosity rover now on Mars.{{cite journal |last=Madhusoodanan |first=Jyoti |title=Microbial stowaways to Mars identified |url= http://www.nature.com/news/microbial-stowaways-to-mars-identified-1.15249 |date=19 May 2014 |journal=Nature |doi=10.1038/nature.2014.15249 |s2cid=87409424 |access-date=23 May 2014 }}
On 25 May 2014, Curiosity discovered an iron meteorite, and named it "Lebanon" (image).
On 3 June 2014, Curiosity observed the planet Mercury transiting the Sun, marking the first time a planetary transit has been observed from a celestial body besides Earth.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |title=Mercury Passes in Front of the Sun, as Seen From Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-183 |date=10 June 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=10 June 2014 }}
On 24 June 2014, Curiosity completed a Martian year—687 Earth days—after finding that Mars once had environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover Marks First Martian Year |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-199 |date=23 June 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=23 June 2014 }}
On 27 June 2014, Curiosity crossed the boundary line of its "3-sigma safe-to-land ellipse" and is now in territory that may get even more interesting, especially in terms of Martian geology and landscape (view from space).{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Curiosity Mars Rover Reaching Edge of Its Landing Ellipse |url= http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=6421 |date=8 July 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=11 July 2014 }}
On 12 July 2014, Curiosity imaged the first laser spark on Mars (related image; [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808083944/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/?id=1317 video (01:07)].)
On 6 August 2014, Curiosity celebrated its second anniversary since landing on Mars in 2012.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA Mars Curiosity Rover: Two Years and Counting on Red Planet |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-262 |date=5 August 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=6 August 2014 }}
On 11 September 2014, a panel of NASA scientists announced ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7szg3JrNT-4 video (01:25)]) the arrival of Curiosity at Mount Sharp and discussed future rover plans.
First extended mission (October 2014 - September 2016)
File:PIA21709-Mars-CuriosityRover-PahrumpHills.jpg
On 19 October 2014, the Curiosity rover viewed the flyby of Comet C/2013 A1.
On 8 December 2014, a panel of NASA scientists discussed ([http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/56255521 archive 62:03)] the latest observations of Curiosity, including findings about how water may have helped shape the landscape of Mars and had a climate long ago that could have produced long-lasting lakes at many Martian locations.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Webster |first2=Guy |title=Release 14-326 - NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Clues to How Water Helped Shape Martian Landscape |url= http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/december/nasa-s-curiosity-rover-finds-clues-to-how-water-helped-shape-martian-landscape/ |date=8 December 2014 |work=NASA |access-date=8 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Kaufmann |first=Marc |title=(Stronger) Signs of Life on Mars |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/science/-stronger-signs-of-life-on-mars.html |date=8 December 2014 |work=New York Times |access-date=8 December 2014 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Curiosity Rover's Quest for Clues on Mars |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/science/curiosity-rovers-quest-for-clues-on-mars.html |date=8 December 2014 |work=New York Times |access-date=9 December 2014 }}
On 16 December 2014, NASA reported detecting an unusual increase, then decrease, in the amounts of methane in the atmosphere of the planet Mars; in addition, organic chemicals were detected in powder drilled from a rock by the Curiosity rover. Also, based on deuterium to hydrogen ratio studies, much of the water at Gale Crater on Mars was found to have been lost during ancient times, before the lakebed in the crater was formed; afterwards, large amounts of water continued to be lost.{{cite journal |author=Mahaffy, P.R. |display-authors=etal |title=Mars Atmosphere - The imprint of atmospheric evolution in the D/H of Hesperian clay minerals on Mars |date=16 December 2014 |journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.1260291 |volume=347 |issue=6220 |pages=412–414 |bibcode=2015Sci...347..412M |pmid=25515119|s2cid=37075396 |url= https://authors.library.caltech.edu/52528/7/Mahaffy-SM.pdf }}
On 21 January 2015, NASA announced a collaborative effort with Microsoft that developed a software project called OnSight which allows scientists to perform virtual work on Mars based on data from the Curiosity rover.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=McGregor |first2=Veroica |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA, Microsoft Collaboration Will Allow Scientists to 'Work on Mars' |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2015-025 |date=21 January 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=21 January 2015 }}
On 6 March 2015, NASA reported performing tests on the rover to help uncover the reason for intermittent problems with the robotic arm used for rock drilling and analysis.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Rover Curiosity Is Suffering Short Circuits in Arm, NASA Says |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/science/space/mars-rover-curiosity-is-suffering-short-circuits-in-arm-nasa-says.html |date=6 March 2015 |work=New York Times |access-date=6 March 2015 }} Results of preliminary tests suggest the intermittent short-circuit problem may be related to the percussion mechanism of the drill. Further tests are planned to verify and adjust to the problem.{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=NASA Finds Likely Source of Mars Rover Curiosity's Short Circuit |url= http://www.space.com/28758-mars-rover-curiosity-short-circuit-drill.html |date=6 March 2015 |work=Space.com |access-date=8 March 2015 }}
On 24 March 2015, NASA reported the first detection of nitrogen released after heating surface sediments on the planet Mars. The nitrogen, in the form of nitric oxide, was detected by the SAM instrument on the Curiosity rover and can be used by living organisms. The discovery supports the notion that ancient Mars may have been habitable for life.{{cite web |last1=Neal-Jones |first1=Nancy |last2=Steigerwald |first2=William |last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Brown |first4=Dwayne |title=Curiosity Rover Finds Biologically Useful Nitrogen on Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4516 |date=24 March 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=25 March 2015 }}
On 27 March 2015, NASA reported that the Bradbury Landing, the mission's landing site, was fading from view in the two-and-a-half years since landing in 2012.
On 4 April 2015, NASA reported studies, based on measurements by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the Curiosity rover, of the Martian atmosphere using xenon and argon isotopes. Results provided support for a "vigorous" loss of atmosphere early in the history of Mars and were consistent with an atmospheric signature found in bits of atmosphere captured in some Martian meteorites found on Earth.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Neal-Jones |first2=Nancy |title=RELEASE 15-055 Curiosity Sniffs Out History of Martian Atmosphere |url= http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/curiosity-sniffs-out-history-of-martian-atmosphere/ |date=31 March 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=4 April 2015 }}File:PIA21146-MarsCuriosityRover-MudstoneMineralogy-20161213.png Mineralogy - 2013 to 2016 on Mars (CheMin; December 13, 2016){{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA21146: Mudstone Mineralogy from Curiosity's CheMin, 2013 to 2016 |url= http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21146 |date=December 13, 2016 |work=NASA |access-date=December 16, 2016 }}}}]]On 19 August 2015, NASA scientists reported that the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) instrument on the Curiosity rover detected an unusual hydrogen-rich area, at "Marias Pass," on Mars. The hydrogen found seemed related to water or hydroxyl ions in rocks within three feet beneath the rover, according to the scientists.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA19809: Curiosity Finds Hydrogen-Rich Area of Mars Subsurface |url= http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19809 |date=19 August 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=19 August 2015 }}
On 5 October 2015, possible recurrent slope lineae, wet brine flows, were reported on Mount Sharp near Curiosity.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Is Pretty Clean. Her Job at NASA Is to Keep It That Way. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/science/mars-catharine-conley-nasa-planetary-protection-officer.html |date=5 October 2015 |work=New York Times |access-date=6 October 2015 }} In addition, on 5 October 2015, NASA reported an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 heat-resistant bacterial spores were on Curiosity at launch, as much as 1,000 times more than that may not have been counted.
On 8 October 2015, NASA confirmed that lakes and streams existed in Gale crater 3.3 - 3.8 billion years ago delivering sediments to build up the lower layers of Mount Sharp.{{cite web |last=Clavin |first=Whitney |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Team Confirms Ancient Lakes on Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4734 |date=8 October 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=9 October 2015 }}{{cite journal |author=Grotzinger, J.P.| display-authors=etal
|title=Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars |date=9 October 2015 |journal=Science |volume=350 |number=6257 |doi=10.1126/science.aac7575 |pages=aac7575 |pmid=26450214|bibcode=2015Sci...350.7575G | s2cid=586848
| url=https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20151009-084255932
}}
On 17 December 2015, NASA reported that as Curiosity climbed higher up Mount Sharp, the composition of rocks were changing substantially. For example, rocks found higher up the mountain contained much higher levels of silica than the basaltic rocks found earlier. After further analysis, the silica-rich rocks on Mars were found to be tridymite, a mineral that is not commonly found on Earth. Opal-A, another form of silica, was also found on Mars.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Rover Finds Changing Rocks, Surprising Scientists |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/science/mars-rover-finds-changing-rocks-surprising-scientists.html |date=17 December 2015 |work=New York Times |access-date=22 December 2015 }}
Second extended mission (October 2016 - September 2019)
File:PIA21145-MarsCuriosityRoverMission-20161213.png |access-date=December 15, 2016 }}}} ]]
The second extended mission began on 1 October 2016.{{Cite web |title=In Depth {{!}} Curiosity (MSL) |url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/curiosity-msl/in-depth |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=NASA Solar System Exploration}} The rover explored a ridge known as the Murray Formation for most of the mission.
As of 3 October 2016, NASA summarized the findings of the mission, thus far, as follows: "The Curiosity mission has already achieved its main goal of determining whether the landing region ever offered environmental conditions that would have been favorable for microbial life, if Mars has ever hosted life. The mission found evidence of ancient rivers and lakes, with a chemical energy source and all of the chemical ingredients necessary for life as we know it."{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Cantillo |first3=Laurie |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Begins Next Mars Chapter |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6632 |date=3 October 2016 |work=NASA |access-date=4 October 2016 }} Plans for the next two years, up to September 2018, include further explorations of the uphill slopes of Mount Sharp, including a ridge rich in the mineral hematite and a region of clay-rich bedrock.
On 13 December 2016, NASA reported further evidence supporting habitability on Mars as the Curiosity rover climbed higher, studying younger layers, on Mount Sharp.{{cite web |last1=Cantillo |first1=Laurie |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Agle |first4=DC |last5=Tabor |first5=Abigail |last6=Mullane |first6=Laura |title=Mars Rock-Ingredient Stew Seen as Plus for Habitability |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6700 |date=13 December 2016 |work=NASA |access-date=14 December 2016}} Also reported, the very soluble element boron was detected for the first time on Mars. Since landing on Mars in August 2012, Curiosity has driven {{convert|15.0|km|mi|abbr=on}} and climbed {{convert|165|m|ft|abbr=on}} in elevation.
On 17 January 2017, NASA released an image of a rock slab, named "Old Soaker", which may contain mud cracks. Also, somewhat later, it released an animation of sand moving in a nearby area.
On 6 February 2017, NASA reported that rock samples analyzed by the rover have not revealed any significant carbonate. This poses a puzzle to researchers: the same rocks that indicate a lake existed also indicate there was very little carbon dioxide in the air to help keep the lake unfrozen.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Cantillo |first2=Laurie |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |last4=Tabor |first4=Abigail |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Sharpens Paradox of Ancient Mars |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6734 |date=6 February 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=27 February 2017 }}
On 27 February 2017, NASA presented the following mission overview: "During the first year after Curiosity's 2012 landing in Gale Crater, the mission fulfilled its main goal by finding that the region once offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. The conditions in long-lived ancient freshwater Martian lake environments included all of the key chemical elements needed for life as we know it, plus a chemical source of energy that is used by many microbes on Earth. The extended mission is investigating how and when the habitable ancient conditions evolved into conditions drier and less favorable for life."{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Cantillo |first2=Laurie |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=Martian Winds Carve Mountains, Move Dust, Raise Dust |url= http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6758 |date=27 February 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=27 February 2017 }}
From 3 to 7 May 2017, Curiosity used ChemCam to study what turned out to be manganese oxide deposits on the Sutton Island and Blunts Point layers of the Murray Formation. According to a 2024 paper, the deposits suggest Earth-level amounts of oxygen were present in the very early Martian atmosphere, hinting at microbial life.{{cite journal | last1=Gasda | first1=P. J. | last2=Lanza | first2=N. L. | last3=Meslin | first3=P.-Y. | last4=Lamm | first4=S. N. | last5=Cousin | first5=A. | last6=Anderson | first6=R. | last7=Forni | first7=O. | last8=Swanner | first8=E. | last9=L’Haridon | first9=J. | last10=Frydenvang | first10=J. | last11=Thomas | first11=N. | last12=Gwizd | first12=S. | last13=Stein | first13=N. | last14=Fischer | first14=W. W. | last15=Hurowitz | first15=J. | last16=Sumner | first16=D. | last17=Rivera-Hernández | first17=F. | last18=Crossey | first18=L. | last19=Ollila | first19=A. | last20=Essunfeld | first20=A. | last21=Newsom | first21=H. E. | last22=Clark | first22=B. | last23=Wiens | first23=R. C. | last24=Gasnault | first24=O. | last25=Clegg | first25=S. M. | last26=Maurice | first26=S. | last27=Delapp | first27=D. | last28=Reyes-Newell | first28=A. | title=Manganese-Rich Sandstones as an Indicator of Ancient Oxic Lake Water Conditions in Gale Crater, Mars | journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets | volume=129 | issue=5 | date=2024 | issn=2169-9097 | doi=10.1029/2023JE007923| doi-access=free | bibcode=2024JGRE..12907923G }}
On 1 June 2017, NASA reported that the Curiosity rover provided evidence of an ancient lake in Gale crater on Mars that could have been favorable for microbial life; the ancient lake was stratified, with shallows rich in oxidants and depths poor in oxidants, particularly silica; the ancient lake provided many different types of microbe-friendly environments at the same time. NASA further reported that the Curiosity rover will continue to explore higher and younger layers of Mount Sharp in order to determine how the lake environment in ancient times on Mars became the drier environment in more modern times.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Mullane |first2=Laura |last3=Cantillo |first3=Laurie |last4=Brown |first4=Dwayne |title=High-Silica 'Halos' Shed Light on Wet Ancient Mars |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6859 |date=31 May 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=1 June 2017 }}{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Filiano |first2=Gregory |last3=Perkins |first3=Robert|last4=Cantillo |first4=Laurie |last5=Brown |first5=Dwayne |title=Curiosity Peels Back Layers on Ancient Martian Lake |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6863 |date=1 June 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=1 June 2017 }}{{cite journal |author=Hurowitz, J.A. |display-authors=etal |title=Redox stratification of an ancient lake in Gale crater, Mars |date=2 June 2017 |journal=Science |volume=356 |issue=6341 |doi=10.1126/science.aah6849 |pmid=28572336 |bibcode=2017Sci...356.6849H |page=eaah6849|doi-access=free |hdl=10044/1/53715 |hdl-access=free }}
Between 22 July – 1 August 2017, few commands were sent from the Earth to Mars since Mars was in conjunction with the sun.{{cite web |last=Byrd |first=Deborah |title=No commands to Mars craft in late July |url= http://earthsky.org/space/nasa-moratorium-commands-mars-july-22-aug-1-2017 |date=15 July 2017 |work=Earth & Sky |access-date=15 July 2017 }}
On 5 August 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Curiosity rover mission landing, and related exploratory accomplishments, on the planet Mars.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Cantillo |first2=Laurie |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=Five Years Ago and 154 Million Miles Away: Touchdown! |url= https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/news/2017/five-years-ago-and-154-million-miles-away-touchdown |date=2 August 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=6 August 2017 }}{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=After 5 Years on Mars, NASA's Curiosity Rover Is Still Making Big Discoveries |url= https://www.space.com/37722-mars-rover-curiosity-five-years-anniversary.html |date=5 August 2017 |work=Space.com |access-date=6 August 2017 }} (Videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxvODcuFb1s Curiosity{{'s}} First Five Years (02:07)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0nPFaBU98k Curiosity{{'s}} POV: Five Years Driving (05:49)]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-uAz82sH-E Curiosity{{'s}} Discoveries About Gale Crater (02:54)])
On 5 September 2017, scientists reported that the Curiosity rover detected boron, an essential ingredient for life on Earth, on the planet Mars. Such a finding, along with previous discoveries that water may have been present on ancient Mars, further supports the possible early habitability of Gale Crater on Mars.{{cite journal |author=Gasda, Patrick J. |display-authors=etal |title=In situ detection of boron by ChemCam on Mars |date=5 September 2017 |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |doi=10.1002/2017GL074480 |bibcode=2017GeoRL..44.8739G |volume=44 |issue=17 |pages=8739–8748|doi-access=free |hdl=2381/41995 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite news |last=Paoletta |first=Rae |title=Curiosity Has Discovered Something That Raises More Questions About Life on Mars |url= https://gizmodo.com/curiosity-has-discovered-something-that-raises-more-que-1800879035 |date=6 September 2017 |work=Gizmodo |access-date=6 September 2017 }}
On 13 September 2017, NASA reported that the Curiosity rover climbed an iron-oxide-bearing ridge called Vera Rubin Ridge (or Hematite Ridge) and will now start studying the numerous bright veins embedded in the various layers of the ridge, in order to provide more details about the history and habitability of ancient Mars.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Cantiollo |first2=Laurie |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Climbing Toward Ridge Top |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6946 |date=13 September 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=13 September 2017 }}
On 30 September 2017, NASA reported radiation levels on the surface of the planet Mars were temporarily doubled, and were associated with an aurora 25-times brighter than any observed earlier, due to a massive, and unexpected, solar storm in the middle of the month.{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Jim |title=Large solar storm sparks global aurora and doubles radiation levels on the martian surface |url= https://phys.org/news/2017-09-large-solar-storm-global-aurora.html |date=30 September 2017 |work=Phys.org |access-date=30 September 2017 }}
On 17 October 2017, NASA announced the testing of its systems on Curiosity in an attempt to better resume drilling. The drilling system had stopped working reliably in December 2016.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA22063: Mars Rover Step Toward Possible Resumption of Drilling |url= https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA22063 |date=23 October 2017 |work=NASA |access-date=25 October 2017 }}
On 2 January 2018, Curiosity captured images of rock shapes that may require further study in order to help better determine whether the shapes are biological or geological.{{cite web |last=David |first=Leonard |title=Structures on Mars |url= https://www.space.com/39294-mars-rover-curiosity-weird-tube-structures.html |date=5 January 2018 |work=Space.com |access-date=5 January 2018 }}{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Christopher |title=Sols 1913-1924: Curiosity's Working Holiday |url= https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/mars-rover-curiosity-mission-updates/?mu=sols-1913-1924-curiositys-working-holiday |date=3 January 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=6 January 2018 }}
On 22 March 2018, Curiosity had spent 2000 sols (2054 days) on Mars,{{cite web |author=Bridges, John |display-authors=etal |title=Curiosity rover: 2,000 days on Mars |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43494227 |date=22 March 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 March 2018 }} and prepares to study a region of clay-bearing rocks.
In June 2018, a local dust storm occurred near the Opportunity rover which may affect Curiosity.{{cite news |last=Chokshi |first=Niraj |title=Huge Dust Storm on Mars Threatens NASA's Opportunity Rover |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/science/mars-dust-storm-martian.html |date=13 June 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=13 June 2018 }} The first signs of the storm, {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Opportunity, were discovered on 1 June 2018, in photographs by the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). More weather reports from the MRO and the MARCI team indicated a prolonged storm. Although this was, at that time, still far away from the rover, it influenced the atmospheric permeability (opacity) at the location. Within days, the storm had spread. As of 12 June 2018, the storm spanned an area of {{convert|41|e6km2|e6sqmi|abbr=unit}} - about the area of North America and Russia combined.{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Is Tracking a Huge Dust Storm on Mars (Photo) |url= https://www.space.com/40867-nasa-curiosity-rover-mars-dust-storm.html |date=12 June 2018 |work=Space.com |access-date=13 June 2018 }}{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Andrew |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Wendell |first3=JoAnna |title=NASA to Hold Media Teleconference on Martian Dust Storm, Mars Opportunity Rover |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7158 |date=12 June 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=12 June 2018 }} Although such dust storms are not surprising, they rarely occur. They can arise within a short time and then persist for weeks to months. During the southern season of summer, the sunlight heats dust particles and brings them higher into the atmosphere. This creates wind, which in turn stirs up more dust. This results in a feedback loop that scientists are still trying to understand. NASA reported on 20 June 2018, that the dust storm had grown to completely cover the entire planet.{{cite web |last1=Shekhtman |first1=Lonnie |last2=Good |first2=Andrew |title=Martian Dust Storm Grows Global; Curiosity Captures Photos of Thickening Haze |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7164 |date=20 June 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=21 June 2018 }}{{cite web |last=Malik |first=Tariq |title=Epic Dust Storm on Mars Now Completely Covers the Red Planet |url= https://www.space.com/40952-mars-dust-storm-2018-covers-entire-planet.html |date=21 June 2018 |work=Space.com |access-date=21 June 2018 }}
On 4 June 2018, NASA announced that Curiosity{{'s}} ability to drill has been sufficiently restored by engineers. The rover had experienced drill mechanical problems since December 2016.{{cite web |last=Good |first=Andrew |title=Mars Curiosity's Labs Are Back in Action |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7149 |date=4 June 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=4 June 2018 }}
File:PIA22328-MarsCuriosityRover-Methane-SeasonalCycle-20180607.jpgOn 7 June 2018, NASA announced a cyclical seasonal variation in atmospheric methane, as well as the presence of kerogen and other complex organic compounds. The organic compounds were from mudstone rocks aged approximately 3.5 billion years old, sampled from two distinct sites in a dry lake in the Pahrump Hills of the Gale crater. The rock samples, when pyrolyzed via the Curiosity{{'}}s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument, released an array of organic molecules; these include sulfur-containing thiophenes, aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene, and aliphatic compounds such as propane and butene. The concentration of organic compounds are 100-fold higher than earlier measurements. The authors speculate that the presence of sulfur may have helped preserve them. The products resemble those obtained from the breakdown of kerogen, a precursor to oil and natural gas on Earth. NASA stated that these findings are not evidence that life existed on the planet, but that the organic compounds needed to sustain microscopic life were present, and that there may be deeper sources of organic compounds on the planet.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Wendel |first2=JoAnna |last3=Steigerwald |first3=Bill |last4=Jones |first4=Nancy |last5=Good |first5=Andrew |title=Release 18-050 - NASA Finds Ancient Organic Material, Mysterious Methane on Mars |url= https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-finds-ancient-organic-material-mysterious-methane-on-mars |date=7 June 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=7 June 2018 }}{{cite web |author=NASA |title=Ancient Organics Discovered on Mars - video (03:17) |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0gsz8EHiNc |date=7 June 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=7 June 2018 }}{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Curiosity Rover Finds Ancient 'Building Blocks for Life' on Mars |url= https://www.space.com/40819-mars-methane-organics-curiosity-rover.html |date=7 June 2018 |work=Space.com |access-date=7 June 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Life on Mars? Rover's Latest Discovery Puts It 'On the Table' - The identification of organic molecules in rocks on the red planet does not necessarily point to life there, past or present, but does indicate that some of the building blocks were present. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/science/mars-nasa-life.html |date=7 June 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=8 June 2018 }}{{cite journal |last=Voosen |first=Paul |title=NASA rover hits organic pay dirt on Mars |url= https://www.science.org/content/article/nasa-rover-hits-organic-pay-dirt-mars |date=7 June 2018 |journal=Science |access-date=7 June 2018 | doi = 10.1126/science.aau3992 |s2cid=115442477 }}{{cite journal |last=ten Kate |first=Inge Loes |title=Organic molecules on Mars |date=8 June 2018 |journal=Science |volume=360 |issue=6393 |pages=1068–1069 |doi=10.1126/science.aat2662 |pmid=29880670|bibcode=2018Sci...360.1068T |hdl=1874/366378 |s2cid=46952468 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |author=Webster, Christopher R. |display-authors=etal |title=Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations |date=8 June 2018 |journal=Science |volume=360 |issue=6393 |pages=1093–1096 |doi=10.1126/science.aaq0131|pmid=29880682 |bibcode=2018Sci...360.1093W |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |author=Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. |author-link1=Jennifer Eigenbrode|display-authors=etal |title=Organic matter preserved in 3-billion-year-old mudstones at Gale crater, Mars |date=8 June 2018 |journal=Science |volume=360 |issue=6393 |pages=1096–1101 |doi=10.1126/science.aas9185|pmid=29880683 |bibcode=2018Sci...360.1096E |doi-access=free |hdl=10044/1/60810 |hdl-access=free }}
Since 15 September 2018, a glitch in Curiosity
On 4 November 2018, geologists presented evidence, based on studies in Gale Crater by the Curiosity rover, that there was plenty of water on early Mars.{{cite news |author=Geological Society of America |title=Evidence of outburst flooding indicates plentiful water on early Mars |url= https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/gsoa-eoo110318.php |date= 3 November 2018 |work=EurekAlert! |access-date=5 November 2018 |author-link=Geological Society of America }}{{cite journal |author=Heydari, Ezat |display-authors=etal |title=Significance of Flood Depositis in Gale Crater, Mars |url= https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2018AM/webprogram/Paper319960.html |date=4 November 2018 |journal=Geological Society of America |access-date=5 November 2018 }}
On 26 November 2018, Curiosity viewed a shiny object (named, "Little Colonsay") on Mars.{{cite news |last=Schwenzer |first=Susanne |title=Sol 2245-2246: Hunting shiny things! |url= https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/mars-rover-curiosity-mission-updates/?mu=sol-2245-2246-hunting-shiny-things |date=28 November 2018 |work=NASA |access-date=1 December 2018 }} Although possibly a meteorite, further studies are planned to better understand its nature.
On 1 February 2019, NASA scientists reported that the Mars Curiosity rover determined, for the first time, the density of Mount Sharp in Gale crater, thereby establishing a clearer understanding of how the mountain was formed.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=How NASA's Curiosity Rover Weighed a Mountain on Mars - With a bit of technical improvisation, scientists worked out that the bedrock of Mount Sharp appeared to be less dense than had been expected. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/science/mars-curiosity-rover-mount-sharp.html |date=31 January 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=1 February 2019 }}{{cite journal |author=Lewis, Kevin W. |title=A surface gravity traverse on Mars indicates low bedrock density at Gale crater |date=1 February 2019 |journal=Science |volume=363 |issue=6426 |pages=535–537 |doi=10.1126/science.aat0738 |pmid=30705193 |bibcode=2019Sci...363..535L |s2cid=59567599 |doi-access=free }}
On 4 April 2019, NASA released images of solar eclipses by the two moons of the planet Mars, Phobos (animation1) and Deimos (animation2), as viewed by the Curiosity rover on the planet Mars in March 2019.{{cite news |last1=Good |first1=Andrew |last2=Greiciua |first2=Tony |title=Curiosity Captured Two Solar Eclipses on Mars |url= https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/curiosity-captured-two-solar-eclipses-on-mars |date=4 April 2019 |work=NASA |access-date=5 April 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Dvorsky |first=George |title=Curiosity Rover Spots a Pair of Solar Eclipses on Mars |url= https://gizmodo.com/curiosity-rover-spots-a-pair-of-solar-eclipses-on-mars-1833834577 |date=5 April 2019 |work=Gizmodo |access-date=5 April 2019 }}
On 11 April 2019, NASA announced that the Curiosity rover on the planet Mars drilled into, and closely studied, a "clay-bearing unit" which, according to the rover Project Manager, is a "major milestone" in Curiosity{{'s}} journey up Mount Sharp.{{cite news |last=Good |first=Andrew |title=Curiosity Tastes First Sample in 'Clay-Bearing Unit' |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7376 |date=11 April 2019 |work=NASA |access-date=12 April 2019 }}
During June 2019, while still studying the clay-bearing unit, Curiosity detected the highest levels of methane gas, 21 parts per billion, compared to the typical 1 part per billion the rover detects as normal background readings. The levels of methane dropped quickly over a few days, leading NASA to call this event one of several methane plumes that they have observed before but without any observable pattern. The rover lacked the necessary instrumentation to determine if the methane was biological or inorganic in nature.{{cite web|url= https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/curiosity-detects-unusually-high-methane-levels |title=Curiosity's Mars Methane Mystery Continues |date=23 June 2019 |access-date=25 June 2019 |work=NASA }}{{cite web|url= https://www.engadget.com/2019/06/25/nasa-methane-plume-curiosity/ |title=NASA just witnessed its biggest methane gas emission on Mars |first=MAriella |last=Moon |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=24 June 2019 |work=Engadget }}{{cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Overbye |title=With a Poof, Mars Methane Is Gone - Last week, NASA's Curiosity rover detected a belch of natural gas on the red planet. The gas has since dissipated, leaving only a mystery. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/science/mars-methane-nasa.html |date=26 June 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=26 June 2019 }}
Third extended mission (October 2019 - September 2022)
File:PIA23179-MarsCuriosityRoverExploersMountSharp-20190515.jpgThe third extended mission began on 1 October 2019 - the rover's 2544th sol on Mars.{{Cite journal |last=Vasavada |first=Ashwin |date=5 April 2022 |title=Mission Overview and Scientific Contributions from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover After Eight Years of Surface Operations |journal=Space Science Reviews |volume=218 |issue=3 |page=14 |doi=10.1007/s11214-022-00882-7 |pmid=35399614 |pmc=8981195 |bibcode=2022SSRv..218...14V }}
In October 2019, evidence in the form of magnesium sulfate deposits left behind in ways that suggested evaporation, uncovered by the Curiosity rover on Mount Sharp, was reported of a {{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide ancient basin in Gale crater that once may have contained a salty lake.{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Andrew |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds an Ancient Oasis on Mars |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7514 |date=7 October 2019 |work=NASA |access-date=7 October 2019 }}{{cite journal |author=Rapin, W. |display-authors=et al. |title=An interval of high salinity in ancient Gale crater lake on Mars |date=7 October 2019 |journal=Nature Geoscience |volume=317 |issue=11 |pages=889–895 |doi=10.1038/s41561-019-0458-8 |bibcode=2019NatGe..12..889R |s2cid=203848784 |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02344302/file/wrapin_manuscript_sulfate_enrichments_final.pdf }}File:PIA23977-MarsCuriosityRover-DrillHoles-20200701.jpg
In January 2020, a report was presented that compared Curiosity at the time of its landing on Mars in 2012, with the rover over seven years later in 2020.{{cite news |last=Rabie |first=Passant |title=Mars: Viral Photo Shows What 7 Years On The Red Planet Did To Curiosity Rover - The Red Planet Took A Toll On This Little Robot |url=https://www.inverse.com/science/mars-curiosity-rover-after-7-years-photo |date=27 January 2020 |work=Inverse |access-date=27 January 2020}}
In February 2020, scientists reported the detection of thiophene organic molecules by the Curiosity rover on the planet Mars. It is not currently known if the detected thiophenes — usually associated on Earth with kerogen, coal and crude oil — are the result of biological or non-biological processes.{{cite journal |last1=Heinz |first1=Jacob |last2=Schulze-Makuch |first2=Dirk |title=Thiophenes on Mars: Biotic or Abiotic Origin? |date=24 February 2020 |journal=Astrobiology |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=552–561 |doi=10.1089/ast.2019.2139 |pmid=32091933 |bibcode=2020AsBio..20..552H |doi-access=free }}{{cite news |author=Washington State University |title=Organic molecules discovered by Curiosity Rover consistent with early life on Mars: study |url=https://phys.org/news/2020-03-molecules-curiosity-rover-early-life.html |date=5 March 2020 |work=Phys.org |access-date=5 March 2020 |author-link=Washington State University }}
In April 2020, scientists began operating the rover remotely from their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Good |first1=Andrew |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |title=NASA's Curiosity Keeps Rolling As Team Operates Rover From Home |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7638 |date=14 April 2020 |work=NASA |access-date=14 April 2020 }}
On 29 August 2020, NASA released several videos taken by the Curiosity rover, including those involving dust devils, as well as very high resolution images of the related local martian terrain.{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Mars dust devil! Curiosity rover spots Red Planet twister (photos) - Curiosity doesn't always have its eyes on the ground. |url=https://www.space.com/mars-dust-devil-curiosity-rover.html |date=29 August 2020 |work=Space.com |access-date=29 August 2020 }}
In June 2021, scientists determined that the methane concentration around Curiosity varied according to the time of sol, with methane present only at night. This explains the difference in methane levels detected by Curiosity and the Trace Gas Orbiter (an open question since 2016), although it does not explain what is creating the methane or why the methane seems to be more short-lived than current models predict.{{Cite web|last=mars.nasa.gov|title=First You See It, Then You Don't: Scientists Closer to Explaining Mars Methane Mystery|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8976/first-you-see-it-then-you-dont-scientists-closer-to-explaining-mars-methane-mystery?site=msl|access-date=2021-06-30|website=NASA’s Mars Exploration Program|date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}
On 3 July 2021, the Curiosity rover viewed the "Rafael Navarro Mountain" area.
On 1 November 2021, astronomers reported detecting, in a "first-of-its-kind" process based on SAM instruments, organic molecules, including benzoic acid, ammonia and other related unknown compounds, on the planet Mars by the Curiosity rover.{{cite news |last=Rabie |first=Passant |title=Organic Molecules Found On Mars For The First Time - The Curiosity rover demonstrated a useful technique to search for Martian biosignatures. |url=https://www.inverse.com/science/organic-molecules-found-on-mars-for-the-first-time |date=1 November 2021 |work=Inverse |accessdate=2 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |author=Millan, M. |display-authors=et al. |title=Organic molecules revealed in Mars's Bagnold Dunes by Curiosity's derivatization experiment |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01507-9 |date=1 November 2021 |journal=Nature Astronomy |volume=6 |pages=129–140 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01507-9 |s2cid=240490556 |accessdate=2 November 2021 }}
On 17 January 2022, scientists reported finding an unusual signal of carbon isotopes on Mars by the Curiosity rover which may (or may not) be associated with ancient Martian life and suggesting, according to the scientists, that microbes residing underground may have emitted the "enriched carbon as methane gas". However, abiotic sources of the unusual carbon signal have not been completely ruled out.{{cite journal |last=Voosen |first=Paul |title=Mars rover detects carbon signature that hints at past life source - Dramatically "light" carbon could also be explained by atmospheric reactions or cosmic dust |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/mars-rover-detects-carbon-signature-hints-past-life-source |date=17 January 2022 |journal=Science |volume=375 |issue=6578 |page=254 |doi=10.1126/science.ada0234 |pmid=35050666 |s2cid=246151537 |accessdate=18 January 2022 }}{{cite journal| author=House, Christopher H. |display-authors=et al. |title=Depleted carbon isotope compositions observed at Gale crater, Mars |date=25 January 2022 |journal=PNAS |volume=119 |issue=4 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2115651119 |doi-access=free |pmid=35042808 |pmc=8795525 |bibcode=2022PNAS..11915651H }}{{cite news |last=Gough |first=Evan |title=Curiosity Sees a Strong Carbon Signature in a Bed of Rocks |url=https://www.universetoday.com/154139/curiosity-sees-a-strong-carbon-signature-in-a-bed-of-rocks/ |date=21 January 2022 |work=Universe Today |accessdate=22 January 2022 }}
In April 2022, Mars Science Laboratory was renewed for a fourth extended mission, which will include the exploration of the sulfate-bearing unit.{{Cite web |last=Talbert |first=Tricia |date=2022-04-25 |title=NASA Extends Exploration for 8 Planetary Science Missions |url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-extends-exploration-for-8-planetary-science-missions |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=NASA}}
Fourth extended mission (October 2022 - Present)
File:PIA26042-MarsCuriosityRover-PathToGedizVallisRidge-Animation-Aug2023.gif and beyond, commencing during the fourth extended mission.
In January 2023, the Curiosity Rover viewed and studied the "Cacao" meteorite.
In August 2023, Curiosity explored the upper Gediz Vallis Ridge.{{Cite web |last=Laboratory |first=Deborah Padgett, OPGS Task Lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion |title=Sols 3923-3925: Approaching the Ridgetop – "Bermuda Triangle" Ahead! |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission-updates/9465/sols-3923-3925-approaching-the-ridgetop-bermuda-triangle-ahead |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=London |first=Emma Harris, Graduate Student at Natural History Museum |title=Sols 3930-3931: Wrapping up at the Ridge |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission-updates/9470/sols-3930-3931-wrapping-up-at-the-ridge |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |language=en}} A panoramic view of the ridge is here, and a 3D rendered view is here.
In February 2024, Curiosity completed its 40th successful drilling,{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Lucy |title=Sols 4114-4115: Bingo! It's Official – Curiosity's 40th Successful Drill Hole on Mars! |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission-updates/9557/sols-4114-4115-bingo-its-official-curiositys-40th-successful-drill-hole-on-mars |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Sharon |title=Sols 4107-4109: Drilling Mineral King |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission-updates/9554/sols-4107-4109-drilling-mineral-king |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |language=en}} of a rock named "Mineral King" in Gediz Vallis.
In July 2024, it was announced that, in an analysis of a rock that had been crushed by the rover (one in a series of deposits), elemental pure sulfur had been found on Mars for the first time.{{Cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/curiosity-rover-makes-an-accidental-discovery-on-mars-what-the-rare-find-could-mean/ar-BB1qqHrw?ocid=BingNewsSerp | title=Curiosity rover makes an accidental discovery on Mars. What the rare find could mean | first=Cybele | last=Mayes-Osterman | website=MSN | date=2024-07-22}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-science-laboratory/curiosity-rover/nasas-curiosity-rover-discovers-a-surprise-in-a-martian-rock/ | title=NASA's Curiosity Rover Discovers a Surprise in a Martian Rock - NASA | date=18 July 2024 }}
In October 2024, the science team behind the SAM experiment onboard the rover announced the results of three years of sampling, which suggested that based on high carbon-13 and oxygen-18 levels in the regolith, the early Martian atmosphere was unlikely to be stable enough to support surface water hospitable to life, with rapid wetting-drying cycles and very high-salinity cryogenic brines providing an explanation.{{cite journal | last1=Burtt | first1=David G. | last2=Stern | first2=Jennifer C. | last3=Webster | first3=Christopher R. | last4=Hofmann | first4=Amy E. | last5=Franz | first5=Heather B. | last6=Sutter | first6=Brad | last7=Thorpe | first7=Michael T. | last8=Kite | first8=Edwin S. | last9=Eigenbrode | first9=Jennifer L. | last10=Pavlov | first10=Alexander A. | last11=House | first11=Christopher H. | last12=Tutolo | first12=Benjamin M. | last13=Des Marais | first13=David J. | last14=Rampe | first14=Elizabeth B. | last15=McAdam | first15=Amy C. | last16=Malespin | first16=Charles A. | title=Highly enriched carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonate-derived CO 2 at Gale crater, Mars | journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume=121 | issue=42 | date=October 7, 2024 | pages=e2321342121 | issn=0027-8424 | doi=10.1073/pnas.2321342121 | pmid=39374395 | pmc=11494307 | bibcode=2024PNAS..12121342B }}{{cite web |last=Steigerwald|first=William| title=NASA: New Insights into How Mars Became Uninhabitable | website=NASA Science | date=October 7, 2024 | url=https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/mars/nasa-new-insights-into-how-mars-became-uninhabitable/ | access-date=October 8, 2024}}
In March 2025 it was published that Curiosity discovered long chain alkanes with up to 12 consecutive carbon atoms, in mudstone in Gale crater. The origin of these molecules is unknown. They could be derived from either abiotic or biological sources.{{Cite journal |last=Freissinet |first=Caroline |last2=Glavin |first2=Daniel P. |last3=Archer |first3=P. Douglas |last4=Teinturier |first4=Samuel |last5=Buch |first5=Arnaud |last6=Szopa |first6=Cyril |last7=Lewis |first7=James M. T. |last8=Williams |first8=Amy J. |last9=Navarro-Gonzalez |first9=Rafael |last10=Dworkin |first10=Jason P. |last11=Franz |first11=Heather. B. |last12=Millan |first12=Maëva |last13=Eigenbrode |first13=Jennifer L. |last14=Summons |first14=R. E. |last15=House |first15=Christopher H. |date=March 2025 |title=Long-chain alkanes preserved in a Martian mudstone |url=https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2420580122 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=122 |issue=13 |pages=e2420580122 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2420580122|doi-access=free |pmc=12002291 }}
In the spring of 2025, NASA announced that Curiosity had found carbonates in the form of crystalline siderite (FeCO3). One rock contained over 10 % of the mineral. These were expected on Mars due to the carbon dioxide atmosphere. Not many carbonated were detected from orbit because they may be obscured by dust. The rocks also were composed of plagioclase with the elements sodium (Na)–, Ca-, and aluminum (Al)–, as well as Ca- and Mg-bearing silicate mineral pyroxene. Other minerals found were calcium sulfates, magnesium sulfates, different amounts of iron oxyhydroxides, and an unidentified X-ray amorphous material. Rover’s Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument uses X-ray diffraction to determine sample mineralogy. The names of the rock formations and drill sites are CA, Canaima; TC, Tapo Caparo; UB, Ubajara; and SQ, Sequoia.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado9966|title=Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars|first1=Benjamin M.|last1=Tutolo|first2=Elisabeth M.|last2=Hausrath|first3=Edwin S.|last3=Kite|first4=Elizabeth B.|last4=Rampe|first5=Thomas F.|last5=Bristow|first6=Robert T.|last6=Downs|first7=Allan|last7=Treiman|first8=Tanya S.|last8=Peretyazhko|first9=Michael T.|last9=Thorpe|first10=John P.|last10=Grotzinger|first11=Amelie L.|last11=Roberts|first12=P. Douglas|last12=Archer|first13=David J.|last13=Des Marais|first14=David F.|last14=Blake|first15=David T.|last15=Vaniman|first16=Shaunna M.|last16=Morrison|first17=Steve|last17=Chipera|first18=Robert M.|last18=Hazen|first19=Richard V.|last19=Morris|first20=Valerie M.|last20=Tu|first21=Sarah L.|last21=Simpson|first22=Aditi|last22=Pandey|first23=Albert|last23=Yen|first24=Stephen R.|last24=Larter|first25=Patricia|last25=Craig|first26=Nicholas|last26=Castle|first27=Douglas W.|last27=Ming|first28=Johannes M.|last28=Meusburger|first29=Abigail A.|last29=Fraeman|first30=David G.|last30=Burtt|first31=Heather B.|last31=Franz|first32=Brad|last32=Sutter|first33=Joanna V.|last33=Clark|first34=William|last34=Rapin|first35=John C.|last35=Bridges|first36=Matteo|last36=Loche|first37=Patrick|last37=Gasda|first38=Jens|last38=Frydenvang|first39=Ashwin R.|last39=Vasavada|date=April 18, 2025|journal=Science|volume=388|issue=6744|pages=292–297|via=science.org (Atypon)|doi=10.1126/science.ado9966}}
