Pitting in Martian Soil During Repeated Laser Shots From Mars Rover
This image from an animation shows how repeated laser shots from the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity cause a pit to form at the target point in Martian soil.
This image from NASA's Curiosity was taken by the right (telephoto-lens) camera of the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on the rover during the 193rd Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Feb. 20, 2013) in the 'Glenelg' area.
The Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity was used to check the composition of gray tailings from the hole in rock target 'Cumberland' that the rover drilled on May 19, 2013.
Curiosity Mars Rover Drilling Into Its Second Rock
This frame from an animation from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the rover drilling into rock target 'Cumberland.' The drilling was performed during the 279th Martian day, or sol, of the Curiosity's work on Mars (May 19, 2013).
This image demonstrates how engineers place the drill carried by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity onto rock targets. They first set down the drill's two stabilizing prongs near the target, as shown by the dashed line.
This image taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the texture of the patch of flat-lying bedrock called 'Cumberland,' which was the mission's second target for use of the rover's sample-collecting drill.
Position of Curiosity for Drilling at 'Cumberland'
This image produced from software used for planning drives of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity depicts the location and size of the rover when it was driven into position for drilling into rock target 'Cumberland.'
This map shows where NASA's Mars rover Curiosity landed in August 2012 at 'Bradbury Landing.' All of these features are inside Gale Crater. Curiosity's next major destination, the entry point to the base of Mount Sharp.
NASA's Curiosity rover found evidence for an ancient, flowing stream on Mars at a few sites, including a rock which the science team has named 'Hottah' after Hottah Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories. 3-D glasses are needed.
Remnants of Ancient Streambed on Mars (White-Balanced View)
NASA's Curiosity rover found evidence for an ancient, flowing stream on Mars at a few sites, including a rock which the science team has named 'Hottah' after Hottah Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories.
Comparison of Some Radiation Exposures to Mars-Trip Level
This graphic compares the radiation dose equivalent for several types of experiences, including a calculation for a trip from Earth to Mars based on measurements made by the RAD instrument shielded inside NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft.
This graph based on data from the RAD instrument onboard NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft shows the flux of energetic particles (vertical axis) as a function of the estimated energy deposited in water (horizontal axis).
Radiation Measurements During Trip From Earth to Mars
This graphic shows the level of natural radiation detected by the Radiation Assessment Detector shielded inside NASA's Mars Science Laboratory on the trip from Earth to Mars from December 2011 to July 2012.
Sources of Ionizing Radiation in Interplanetary Space
This illustration depicts the two main types of radiation that NASA's Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) onboard Curiosity monitors, and how the magnetic field around Earth affects the radiation in space near Earth.
This self-portrait of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity combines dozens of exposures to show gray-powder and two holes where Curiosity used its drill on the rock target 'John Klein.'
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity drilled into this rock target, "Cumberland," during the 279th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (May 19, 2013) and collected a powdered sample of material from the rock's interior.
This image from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the rock target "Cumberland" before and after Curiosity drilled into it to collect a sample for analysis.
This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows the southeastern rim of Gale Crater. The large ridge at the bottom of image is the top of the rim. Image shows a channel dissecting the rim; two dune fields occur along the path of the channel too.
Moving further east, this image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows the southern extent of Mt. Sharp as well as the crater floor and rim. In this image there are small dunes near Mt. Sharp as well as dunes near the crater rim.
This chart illustrates comparisons among the distances driven by various wheeled vehicles on the surface of Earth's moon and Mars. Of the vehicles shown, the NASA Mars rovers Opportunity and Curiosity are still active.
This image was taken by Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera after the Sol 3309 drive, looking back at the tracks produced while the rover was driving in reverse, as it often does.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its front left Hazard-Avoidance Camera for this image of the rover's arm over the drilling target "Cumberland" during the 275th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (May 15, 2013).
This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft provides another look at one of the larger channels dissecting the rim of Gale Crater that may be the source of the dune material.
Following the dunes eastward, we find several channels dissecting the crater rim in this image from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft. These channels may be the source of material for the sand dunes.