NASA’s Curiosity Rover Discovers Water-Formed Rocks and Gains Insights into Mars’ Past

As NASA’s Curiosity rover continues to explore Gale Crater on Mars, it is collecting rock, soil, and air samples for analysis. This car-sized rover stands as tall as a basketball player and has a 7-foot long arm that allows it to place tools close to rocks for study. With a suite of 10 advanced science instruments, including 17 cameras, a laser for vaporizing rocks, and a drill for collecting samples, Curiosity is well equipped for its mission.

The rover is specifically looking for rocks that formed in water or contain signs of organics, which could provide valuable information about Mars’ past and its potential to support life. Through its exploration, the rover has offered new insights into the history of Mars. Visitors can take a virtual tour of Gale Crater, the landing site of the Curiosity rover, to learn more about its discoveries and ongoing mission. The credit for this video goes to NASA/JPL-Caltech.