Launch date
2011-11-26
Destination
Mars — Gale Crater
Agencies
NASA
Objectives
- Assess past habitability of Mars
- Characterise climate and geology
- Measure the radiation environment
Spacecraft
899 kg rover with an MMRTG
Scientific instruments and systems
- Mastcam
- ChemCam
- SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars)
- CheMin
- RAD
- APXS
Timeline
- 2011-11-26Launch on Atlas V
- 2012-08-06Sky-crane landing in Gale Crater
- 2013-03Confirmed ancient habitable environment at Yellowknife Bay
Major achievements
- First to confirm an ancient habitable environment on Mars
- Detected organic molecules and seasonal methane variations
Status reviewed 2026-10-23. For official images and the latest updates, visit the agency pages listed under Sources.