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yesterday

NASA Orbiter Captures First Image of Curiosity Rover in Motion on Mars

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRISE camera documented the rover mid-drive for the first time, showcasing its journey toward a region with potential boxwork formations.

Curiosity's path across the surface of Mars.
Image
An artist's impression of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flying above Mars.

Overview

  • On February 28, 2025, the HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the Curiosity rover mid-drive, marking the first time this has been documented from orbit.
  • The image shows Curiosity as a dark speck at the end of a 1,050-foot trail of tracks created over 11 drives since February 2, 2025, as it moved from Gediz Vallis channel toward its next science stop.
  • Curiosity has since ascended a steep slope visible in the image and is expected to reach a region with potential boxwork formations, likely formed by ancient groundwater, within the next month.
  • NASA engineers at JPL plan daily navigation and scientific operations for Curiosity, which travels at a top speed of 0.1 mph while navigating challenging Martian terrain.
  • The tracks left by Curiosity's six wheels are expected to remain visible on the Martian surface for months before being erased by wind.