View source for 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|thumb|right|300px|''Curiosity'' rover on Mars (5 August 2015)]]

The [[Mars Science Laboratory]] and its rover, [[Curiosity rover|''Curiosity'']], were launched from [[Earth]] on 26 November 2011. As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, ''Curiosity'' has been on the [[Mars|planet Mars]] for {{Curiosity Mission Timer}} [[Sol (day on Mars)|sols]] ({{age in days|2012|08|06}} [[days|total days]]; <SMALL>''{{Age in years and days|06 AUG 2012}}''</SMALL>) since landing on 6 August 2012. ''(See [[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Current status|Current status]].)''

==Prelaunch (2004–2011)==
[[File:MSL-Cruise Stage Test.jpg|thumb|Cruise stage is tested in 2010.<ref>[http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=3351 Mars Science Laboratory's Cruise Stage in Test Chamber - NASA]</ref>]]

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.<ref name="Stathopoulos">{{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}}</ref> Launch was proposed for September 2009.<ref name= 'Idaho National Laboratory'>{{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 }}</ref><ref name='NASAfacts'>{{cite web|url= http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/482645main_MSL%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |title=NASA Facts - MSL |access-date=2012-08-13 |work=NASA}}</ref> By 14 December 2004, eight proposals were selected, including instruments from Russia and Spain.<ref name="Stathopoulos"/><ref name='NASAfacts'/>

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.<ref name=Stathopoulos/> By November 2008 most hardware and software development was complete, and testing continued.<ref name="usra">[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)</ref> At this point, cost overruns were approximately $400 million.<ref name="universetoday">[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''.</ref> In December 2008, lift-off was delayed to November 2011 due to insufficient time for testing and integration.<ref name="Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled For 2011">{{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}}</ref><ref name="thespacereview">{{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.}}</ref><ref name='audit2011'>{{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 }}</ref>

Between 23–29 March 2009, the general public ranked nine finalist rover names (''Adventure, Amelia, Journey, Perception, Pursuit, Sunrise, Vision, Wonder'', and ''Curiosity'')<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090326013016/http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/SubmitVoteForm/index.cfm Mars rover name]</ref> through a public poll on the NASA website.<ref name=MSLNameWebsite>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="nasa9">{{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 }}</ref> By the second workshop in late 2007, the list had grown to include almost 50 sites,<ref name="Second MSL Landing Site Workshop">{{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}}</ref> and by the end of the workshop, the list was reduced to six;<ref name="MSL3WorkshopVotes">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Reconnaissance of MSL Sites">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter">{{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 }}</ref> in November 2008, project leaders at a third workshop reduced the list to these four landing sites:<ref name="Site List Narrows For NASA's Next Mars Landing">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Looking at Landing Sites for the Mars Science Laboratory">{{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}}</ref><ref name="ISStD">{{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 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|-
! Name
! Location
! Elevation
! Notes
|-
| [[Eberswalde (crater)|Eberswalde Crater]] || {{Coord|23.86|S|326.73|E|globe:mars}} || {{convert|-1450|m|ft|abbr=on}} || Ancient river delta.<ref name="nasa10">{{Cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/seven-possible-msl-landing-sites/#eberswalde-crater|title=Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Eberswalde Crater|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Holden (Martian crater)|Holden Crater]] || {{Coord|26.37|S|325.10|E|globe:mars}} || {{convert|−1940|m|ft|abbr=on}} || Dry lake bed.<ref name="nasa11">{{Cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/seven-possible-msl-landing-sites/#holden-crater|title=Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Holden Crater|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| [[Gale (crater)|Gale Crater]] || {{Coord|4.49|S|137.42|E|globe:mars}} || {{convert|-4451|m|ft|abbr=on}} || Features {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} tall mountain <br />of layered material near center.<ref name="nasa11"/><ref name="nasa12">{{Cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/seven-possible-msl-landing-sites/#gale-crater|title=Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Gale Crater|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> selected.<ref name="Gale Crater3">{{cite news |last1=Amos |first1=Jonathan |title=Mars rover aims for deep crater |date=22 July 2011 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14249524 |work=BBC News |access-date =22 July 2011 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Mawrth Vallis]] || {{Coord|24.01|N|341.03|E|globe:mars}} || {{convert|-2246|m|ft|abbr=on}} || Channel carved by catastrophic floods.<ref name="nasa13">{{Cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/seven-possible-msl-landing-sites/#mawrth-vallis|title=Mars Science Laboratory: Possible MSL Landing Site: Mawrth Vallis|access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
|}

A fourth landing site workshop was held in late September 2010,<ref name="nasa14">[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/workshops/4th_workshop/program.html Presentations for the Fourth MSL Landing Site Workshop] September 2010</ref> and the fifth and final workshop 16–18 May 2011.<ref name="marstoday">[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</ref> On 22 July 2011, it was announced that [[Gale (crater)|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|thumb|200px|left|MSL Launch - 26 November 2011 15:02:00.211 UTC<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA - Multimedia - Video Gallery |url= http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120810.html|publisher=Nasa.gov|date=2010-04-28|access-date=2012-08-10}}</ref>]]
MSL was launched from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41]] on 26 November 2011, at 10:02 EST (15:02 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]) aboard an [[Atlas V]] 541 provided by [[United Launch Alliance]].<ref name=ula20120819>
{{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 }}</ref><ref name="nasa3">[http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/spacecraft/cruiseconfig/ MSL cruise configuration]</ref> The first and second rocket stages, along with the rocket motors, were stacked on 9 October 2011, near the launch pad.<ref name="universetoday7">{{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}}</ref> The fairing containing the spacecraft was transported to the launch pad on 3 November 2011.<ref name="NASA's new Mars rover reaches Florida launch pad">{{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}}</ref>

On 13 December 2011, the rover began monitoring [[Health threat from cosmic rays|space radiation]] to aid in planning for future crewed missions to Mars.<ref name='radiation'>{{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 }}</ref>

The interplanetary journey to Mars took more than eight months,<ref name="NASA-2">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name='TrajecoryCorrectons'>{{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 }}</ref><ref name="space">{{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 &#124; Curiosity Rover |date=7 August 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=2012-08-08}}</ref>

==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).<ref>[http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_397682534EDR_F0020000AUT_04096M_&s=2 Mars Science Laboratory: Raw Images]</ref><ref>[http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_397673010EDR_F0010008AUT_04096M_&s=2 Mars Science Laboratory: Raw Images]</ref>}}''Curiosity'' landed in the [[Gale Crater]] at 05:17 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on 6 August 2012.<ref name="Space-20120806">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-1">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Sol3">{{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}}</ref><ref name="SF1012012-07-06">{{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 }}</ref> Upon reaching Mars, an automated precision landing sequence took over the entire landing events.<ref name="cruise">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The coordinates of the landing site (named "[[Bradbury Landing]]") are: {{coord|4.5895|S|137.4417|E|globe:Mars}}.<ref name="MSNBC-20120806">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="S&T-20120807">{{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 }}</ref>

Some low resolution [[Hazcam]] images were beamed to Earth by relay orbiters confirming the rover's wheels were deployed correctly and on the ground.<ref name="SF1012012-07-06" /><ref name="First Hours">{{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}}</ref> Three hours later, the rover begins to beam detailed data on its systems' status as well as on its entry, descent and landing experience.<ref name="First Hours" /> 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;<ref>[http://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</ref> the switchover was completed by 15 August.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120815064616/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48668419/ M. Wall - Mars rover survives 'brain transplant' with flying colors - NBC]</ref>

==Prime mission (2012 - September 2014)==
{{see also|Glenelg, Mars}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 800
| header            = Atmospheric values measured by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] at [[Gale Crater]] on [[Mars]] between August 2012 and February 2013.
| width1            = 700
| height1           = 534
| image1            = PIA16913-MarsCuriosityRover-SteadyTemperature-GaleCrater.jpg
| caption1          = [[Temperature]]
| width2            = 664
| height2           = 531
| image2            = PIA16912-MarsCuriosityRover-SeasonalPressure-GaleCrater.jpg
| caption2          = [[Pressure]]
| width3            = 831
| height3           = 637
| image3            = PIA16915-MarsCuriosityRover-Humidity-GaleCrater.jpg
| caption3          = [[Humidity]]
}}

On 15 August 2012, the rover began several days of instrument checks and mobility tests.<ref name='driving 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}}</ref><ref name='first drive'>[http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/firstdrive/ First drive]</ref> The first laser testing of the [[Chemistry and Camera complex|ChemCam]] by ''Curiosity'' on Mars was performed on a rock, [[N165|N165 ("Coronation" rock)]], near [[Bradbury Landing]] on 19 August 2012.<ref name="NASA-20120819a">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20120819">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="BBC-20120817">{{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 }}</ref>

The science and operations teams have identified at least six possible routes to the base of [[Aeolis Mons|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.<ref name='driving tests'/><ref>{{cite news |title=Mars rover could start moving in a week |date=15 August 2012 |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/14/us/mars-curiosity/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 |work=CNN News |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref> The ChemCam team expects to take approximately one dozen compositional measurements of rocks per day.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Having completed its mobility tests, the rover's first drive began on 29 August 2012, to a place called [[Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg]] about {{convert|400|m |ft|abbr=on}} to the east.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

On the way, ''Curiosity'' studied a pyramidal rock dubbed "[[Jake Matijevic (rock)|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.
<ref>{{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}}</ref> The ''Jake rock'' measures about {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide.<ref>{{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}}</ref> It is an [[igneous rock]] and may be a [[mugearite]], a sodium rich [[oligoclase]]-bearing basaltic [[trachyandesite]].<ref name="BBC-20121017">{{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 }}</ref> Afterwards, on 30 September 2012, a finely-grained rock, named "[[Bathurst Inlet (rock)|Bathurst Inlet]]", was examined by ''Curiosity''{{'s}} [[Mars Hand Lens Imager|Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)]] and [[Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer|Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS)]]. The rock was named after [[Bathurst Inlet]], a deep inlet located along the [[Northern Canada|northern coast]] of the Canadian mainland. Also, a [[Sand|sand patch]], named "[[Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]]", is a test target for the first use of the scoop on the arm of the ''Curiosity rover''.<ref name="Space-20121004">{{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 }}</ref>

===Evidence for ancient water===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 210
| header            = Evidence of [[water on Mars]]<ref name="NASA-20120927" /><ref name="NASA-20120927a" /><ref name="AP-20120927" />
| width1            = 776
| height1           = 600
| image1            = PIA16189 fig1-Curiosity Rover-Rock Outcrops-Mars and Earth.jpg
| caption1          = "[[Link (Mars)|Link]]" [[outcrop|rock outcrop]] on Mars, which has been compared with a terrestrial [[Conglomerate (geology)#Fluvial|fluvial conglomerate]].  It suggests water "vigorously" flowed in a [[stream]].
| width2            = 771
| height2           = 600
| caption2          = "[[Hottah (Mars)|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]).
| width3            = 800
| height3           = 598
| caption3          = "[[Link (Mars)|Link]]" [[outcrop|rock outcrop]] on Mars - compared with a terrestrial [[Conglomerate (geology)#Fluvial|fluvial conglomerate]] - suggesting water "vigorously" flowed in a [[stream]].
}}

On 27 September 2012, [[NASA|NASA scientists]] announced that the ''Curiosity'' rover found evidence for an ancient [[streambed]] suggesting a "vigorous flow" of [[water on Mars]].<ref name="NASA-20120927">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20120927a">{{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=[[NASA]]television |access-date=28 September 2012 }}</ref><ref name="AP-20120927">{{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 }}</ref>

On 7 October 2012, a mysterious "bright object" ([[:File:PIA16225-MarsCuriosityRover-ScooperTest&MysteryObject-20121008a.jpg|image]]), discovered in the sand at ''[[Rocknest (Mars)|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".<ref name="Space-20121018">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20121015a">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="UT-20121009">{{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 }}</ref> 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".<ref name="Space-20121018" /><ref name="NASA-20121018">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20121015b">{{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 }}</ref>

On 17 October 2012, at ''Rocknest'', the first [[X-ray crystallography#Mineralogy and metallurgy|X-ray diffraction analysis]] of [[Martian soil]] was performed. The results revealed the presence of several minerals, including [[feldspar]], [[pyroxene]]s and [[olivine]], and suggested that the Martian soil in the sample was similar to the weathered basaltic soils of [[Hawaii Volcanoes|Hawaiian volcanoes]]. The sample used is composed of [[dust]] distributed from [[Martian soil#Atmospheric dust|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.<ref name="NASA-20121030">{{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}}</ref>
On 22 November 2012, the ''Curiosity'' rover analyzed a rock named "[[Rocknest 3 (rock)|Rocknest 3]]" with the [[Curiosity rover#Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)|APXS]] and then resumed traveling toward "Point Lake" overlook on its way to [[Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg Intrigue]].<ref name="Space-20121122">{{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 }}</ref>

On 3 December 2012, NASA reported that ''[[Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]'' performed its first extensive [[soil analysis]], revealing the presence of [[Water on Mars|water molecules]], [[sulfur]] and [[chlorine]] in the [[Martian soil]].<ref name="NASA-20121203">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20121203">{{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 }}</ref> 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]].<ref name="NASA-20121203" /><ref name="NYT-20121203" />

===Evidence for ancient habitability===
In February 2013, the rover used its drill for the first time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130213041314/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1423 NASA Curiosity Rover Collects First Martian Bedrock Sample]</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 210
| header            = 
| width1            = 8510
| height1           = 12204
| image1            = PIA16937-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortraitAtJohnKlein-20130510.jpg
| caption1          = Curiosity at its first drilling site.
| width2            = 3921
| height2           = 4325
| caption2          = [[Curiosity rover#Robotic arm|Drill]] in [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|place]].
| width3            = 750
| height3           = 750
| caption3          = [[Curiosity rover#Robotic arm|Drill bit]]
| width4            = 1605
| height4           = 1196
| caption4          = "[[Curiosity rover#Robotic arm|Drill]] on [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Rock checkout]]."
| width5            = 1584
| height5           = 1184
| caption5          = [[Curiosity rover#Robotic arm|Drill hole]].
| width6            = 1200
| height6           = 1200
| caption6          = [[Curiosity rover#Robotic arm|Drill hole]] - [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|before/after]].
}}

In March 2013, NASA reported ''[[Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]'' found evidence that [[Geochemistry|geochemical]] conditions in [[Gale Crater]] were once suitable for [[microbial life]] after analyzing the first drilled sample of [[list of rocks on Mars|Martian rock]], [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|"John Klein" rock]] at ''Yellowknife Bay'' in [[Gale Crater]]. The rover detected [[water]], [[carbon dioxide]], [[oxygen]], [[sulfur dioxide]] and [[hydrogen sulfide]].<ref name="NASA-20130312">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Space-20130312">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20130312">{{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 }}</ref> [[Chloromethane]] and [[dichloromethane]] were also detected. Related tests found results consistent with the presence of [[Clay minerals|smectite clay minerals]].<ref name="NASA-20130312" /><ref name="Space-20130312" /><ref name="NYT-20130312" /><ref name="SFN-20130312">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="HP-20130312">{{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 }}</ref> In addition, sandstone beds associated with the [[Yellowknife Bay, Mars#Yellowknife Bay Geology|Gillespie Lake Member]] of ''[[Yellowknife Bay, Mars|Yellowknife Bay]]'' seem similar to [[microbially induced sedimentary structure]]s (MISS) found on Earth, according to one study.<ref name="ASB-20150214">{{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 (journal)|Astrobiology]] |volume=15 |issue=2 |doi=10.1089/ast.2014.1218 |pmid=25495393 |bibcode=2015AsBio..15..169N |pages=169–192}}</ref>
===Evidence for atmospheric loss===
On 8 April 2013, NASA reported that much of the [[Atmosphere of Mars#Argon|atmosphere of Mars]] has been [[Atmospheric escape#Comparison of non-thermal loss processes based on planet and particle mass|lost]] based on [[Argon#Isotopes|argon isotope ratios]] studies.<ref name="NASA-20130408">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Space-20130408">{{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 }}</ref>

On 19 July 2013, NASA scientists published the results of a new analysis of the [[atmosphere of Mars]], reporting a lack of [[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|methane]] around the [[Gale Crater|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]].<ref name="Wired-20130718">{{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 (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=19 July 2013 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20130719a">{{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 (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}}</ref><ref name="SCI-20130719b">{{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 (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}}</ref>

===Other 2013 events===
[[File:PIA16818-MarsCuriosityRover-Argon-AtmosphericLoss.png|thumb|200px|right|[[Argon#Isotopes|Argon isotope ratios]] are used to estimate [[Atmosphere of Mars#Argon|atmospheric loss]] on [[Mars]]. ([[Curiosity (rover)|''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.<ref name="NASA-20130318">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20130319">{{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 }}</ref>

On 18 March 2013, NASA reported evidence of [[mineral hydration]], likely hydrated [[calcium sulfate]], in several [[Rock (geology)|rock samples]] including the broken fragments of [[Tintina (rock)|"Tintina" rock]] and [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|"Sutton Inlier" rock]] as well as in [[Vein (geology)|veins]] and [[Nodule (geology)|nodules]] in other rocks like [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|"Knorr" rock]] and [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|"Wernicke" rock]].<ref name="NASA-20130318a">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="BBC-20130319">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="MSN-20130120">{{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 }}</ref> Analysis using the rover's [[Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons|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, Mars|''Glenelg'']] terrain.<ref name="NASA-20130318a" />
[[File:PIA16791-MarsCuriosityRover-Composition-YellowknifeBayRocks.png|thumb|200px|left|Composition of [[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|"Yellowknife Bay" rocks]] - [[Vein (geology)|rock veins]] are higher in [[calcium]] and [[sulfur]] than "Portage" soil - [[Curiosity (rover)#Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)|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 ''[[2001 Mars Odyssey|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.<ref name="NASA-20130408" /><ref name="Space-20130404">{{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}}</ref>

On 5 June 2013, NASA announced that ''Curiosity'' will soon begin a {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} journey from the [[Glenelg, Mars|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.<ref name="NASA-20130605">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="AP-20130605">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20130607">{{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 }}</ref>

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;<ref name="NASA-20130716">{{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}}</ref> on 1 August 2013, the rover traveled over one mile: {{convert|1.686|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="NASA-20130801">{{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 }}</ref>

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 to You|Happy Birthday]]" song to itself.<ref name="WP-20130806">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="ATL-20170810">{{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 }}</ref> NASA also released [[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Videos|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.<ref name="NYT-20130805a">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20130805b">{{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 }}</ref> Primarily, the mission found evidence of "[[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Evidence for ancient habitability|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 [[Chemistry and Camera complex|laser]] fired more than 75,000 times at 2,000 targets.<ref name="NASA-20130806" />

On 27 August 2013, ''Curiosity'' used [[Autonomous Navigation System|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.<ref name="NASA-20130827">{{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 }}</ref>
[[File:PIA17603 Erosion by Scarp Retreat in Gale Crater, Annotated Version.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''Curiosity'' rover - view of "[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Sheepbed]]" [[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.<ref name="SJ-20130919">{{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 (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20130919">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |access-date=19 September 2013 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20130919">{{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 }}</ref>

On 26 September 2013, NASA scientists reported the [[Mars]] [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] detected "abundant, easily accessible" [[Water on Mars|water]] (1.5 to 3 weight percent) in [[Martian soil|soil samples]] at the [[Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest region]] of [[Aeolis Palus]] in [[Gale Crater]].<ref name="ST-20130926">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Science-20130926a">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |volume=341 |issue=6153 <!---|pages=1238937 |number=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 }}</ref><ref name="Science-20130926">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |volume=341 |issue=6153 <!---|number=6153---> |page=1475 |doi=10.1126/science.1244258 |pmid=24072916|bibcode=2013Sci...341.1475G|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20130926a">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20130926b">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20131001">{{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 }}</ref> In addition, NASA reported that the ''Curiosity'' rover found two principal soil types: a fine-grained [[Mafic|mafic type]] and a locally derived, coarse-grained [[Felsic|felsic type]].<ref name="Science-20130926" /><ref name="NASA-20130926b" /><ref name="Science-20130913b">{{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 (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 }}</ref> The mafic type, similar to other [[Martian soil]]s and [[Martian dust]], was associated with hydration of the amorphous phases of the soil.<ref name="Science-20130913b" /> Also, [[perchlorates]], the presence of which may make detection of life-related [[Organic matter|organic molecules]] difficult, were found at the ''Curiosity'' rover landing site (and earlier at the more polar site of the [[Phoenix (spacecraft)|Phoenix lander]]) suggesting a "global distribution of these salts".<ref name="NYT-20131001" /> NASA also reported that [[Jake M (rock)|Jake M rock]], a rock encountered by ''Curiosity'' on the way to [[Glenelg, Mars|Glenelg]], was a [[mugearite]] and very similar to terrestrial mugearite rocks.<ref name="Science-20130926c">{{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 (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}}</ref>

On 17 October 2013, NASA reported, based on analysis of [[argon]] in the [[Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmosphere]], that certain [[List of Martian meteorites|meteorites]] found on Earth thought to be from Mars are confirmed to be from Mars.<ref name="NASA-20131017">{{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 }}</ref>
[[File:PIA17604-MarsCuriosityRover-ScarpRetreatModel-20131209.png|thumb|left|300px|[[Scarp retreat]] by [[History of Mars observation|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)|''Curiosity'' rover]] will traverse on its way to [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]] and "Murray Ridge", an uplifted crater that the [[Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity rover]] is exploring.<ref name="NASA-20131113">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NASA-20131120">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20131125">{{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 }}</ref>

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 science officer|chief scientist]] of the ''Curiosity'' rover mission, was published in the [[New York Times]].<ref name="NYT-20131127">{{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 }}</ref>

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)|''Curiosity'' rover]] studying [[Aeolis Palus]] near [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]] in [[Gale (crater)|Gale Crater]].<ref name="NYT-20131209">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20131209">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |access-date=9 December 2013 }}</ref>
{{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|Hole ({{convert|1.6|cm|in|abbr=on}}) drilled]] into "[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|John Klein]]" [[mudstone]].
| caption2          = [[Sample Analysis at Mars|Spectral Analysis (SAM)]] of "[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Cumberland]]" [[mudstone]].
| caption3          = [[Clay minerals|Clay mineral]] structure of [[mudstone]].
| footer            = The [[Curiosity (rover)|''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 (journal)|Science]], many new discoveries from the ''Curiosity'' rover. Possible organics were found that could not be explained by contamination.<ref name="SCI-2013-Blake">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars: characterization and analysis of the Rocknest sand shadow |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-2013-Leshin">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Volatile, isotope, and organic analysis of Martian fines with the Mars Curiosity rover |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref> Although the organic carbon was probably from Mars, it can all be explained by dust and meteorites that have landed on the planet.<ref name="SCI-2013-McLennan">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Elemental geochemistry of sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-1996-Flynn">
{{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 }}</ref><ref name="PNAS-2000-Benner">{{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 }}</ref> 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 "''[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Sheepbed mudstone]]''". The samples were named ''[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|John Klein]]'' and ''[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Cumberland]]''. Microbes could be living on Mars by obtaining energy from chemical imbalances between minerals in a process called [[chemolithotrophy]] which means "eating rock."<ref name="SCI-2013-Grotzinger">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref> However, in this process only a very tiny amount of carbon is involved — much less than was found at ''Yellowknife Bay''.<ref name="SCI-2013-Kerr">
{{cite journal|author=Kerr, R. |date=2013 |title=New Results Send Mars Rover on a Quest for Ancient Life |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=342 |number=6164 |pages=1300–1301 |doi=10.1126/science.342.6164.1300 |pmid=24337267|bibcode=2013Sci...342.1300K }}</ref><ref name="SCI-2013-Ming">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="SCI-2013-Farley">{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=In Situ Radiometric and Exposure Age Dating of the Martian Surface |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref>

The absorbed dose and dose equivalent from galactic cosmic rays and [[solar energetic particle]]s 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 [[biosignature]]s 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|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.<ref name="SREF-20131209">{{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 }}</ref> Maximum shielding from galactic cosmic rays can be obtained with about 3 meters of [[Martian soil]].<ref name="SCI-2013-Hassler">{{cite journal|date=2013 |title=Mars' Surface Radiation Environment Measured with the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity Rover|journal=[[Science (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}}</ref>

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.<ref name="SCI-2013-McLennan" /><ref name="SCI-2013-Vaniman">
{{cite journal |date=2013 |title=Mineralogy of a mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-2006-Bibring">
{{cite journal |date=2006 |title=Global mineralogical and aqueous mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars Express data. |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-LET-2005-Squyres">
{{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 }}</ref> These types of iron and sulfur could have been used by living organisms.<ref name="PHIL-1999-Nealson">{{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 }}</ref> [[Carbon|C]], [[Hydrogen|H]], [[Oxygen|O]], [[Sulfur|S]], [[Nitrogen|N]], and [[Phosphorus|P]] were measured directly as key biogenic elements, and by inference, P is assumed to have been there as well.<ref name="SCI-2013-Grotzinger" /><ref name="SCI-2013-Ming" /> The two samples, ''[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|John Klein]]'' and ''[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Cumberland]]'', contain basaltic minerals, Ca-sulfates, Fe oxide/hydroxides, Fe-sulfides, amorphous material, and trioctahedral [[smectite]]s (a type of clay). Basaltic minerals in the [[mudstone]] are similar to those in nearby [[aeolian processes|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]].<ref name="GEO-1994-Keller">
{{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. }}</ref> 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.<ref name="SCI-2013-Vaniman" />

On 20 December 2013, NASA reported that ''Curiosity'' has successfully upgraded, for the third time since [[Bradbury Landing|landing]], its software programs and is now operating with version 11. The new software is expected to provide the rover with better [[Curiosity (rover)#Robotic arm|robotic arm]] and [[Autonomous Navigation System|autonomous driving]] abilities. Due to wheel wear, a concern to drive more carefully over the rough terrain the rover is currently traveling on to [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]], was also reported.<ref name="NASA-20131220a">{{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 }}</ref>

===Search for ancient life===
On 24 January 2014, NASA reported that current studies by the ''Curiosity'' and [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] [[Mars rover|rovers]] will now be searching for evidence of ancient life, including a [[biosphere]] based on [[autotroph]]ic, [[chemotroph]]ic and/or [[Lithotroph#Chemolithotrophs|chemolithoautotrophic]] [[microorganism]]s, as well as ancient water, including [[Lacustrine plain|fluvio-lacustrine environments]] ([[plain]]s related to ancient [[river]]s or [[lake]]s) that may have been [[Planetary habitability|habitable]].<ref name="SCI-20140124a">
{{cite journal |last=Grotzinger |first=John P.|title=Introduction to Special Issue - Habitability, Taphonomy, and the Search for Organic Carbon on Mars|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |date=24 January 2014 |volume=343 |issue=6169<!---|number=6169---> |pages=386–387 |doi=10.1126/science.1249944 |bibcode=2014Sci...343..386G |pmid=24458635|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20140124special">
{{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 (journal)|Science]] |volume=343 |number=6169 |pages=345–452|access-date=24 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20140124">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |access-date=24 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-2013-Grotzinger" /> The search for evidence of [[Planetary habitability|habitability]], [[taphonomy]] (related to [[fossils]]), and [[organic carbon]] on the planet [[Mars]] is now a primary [[NASA]] objective.<ref name="SCI-20140124a" />

===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 (Mars)|Mount Sharp]]<br />(11 September 2014).}}
On 11 September 2014 (Sol 746), ''Curiosity'' reached the slopes of [[Aeolis Mons]] (or [[Mount Sharp (Mars)|Mount Sharp]]), the rover mission's long-term prime destination<ref name="NASA-20140911">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20140911">{{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 }}</ref> and where the rover is expected to learn more about the [[Geological history of Mars|history of Mars]].<ref name="NASA-20130806">{{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 }}</ref> ''Curiosity'' had traveled an estimated linear distance of {{convert|6.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="NASA-20130827a" /> to the mountain slopes since leaving its "''start''" point in Yellowknife Bay on 4 July 2013.<ref name="NASA-20130827a" />
===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 [[Atmosphere of Mars|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.<ref name="NASA-20141216-GW">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141216-KC">{{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 }}</ref>  In addition, high levels of [[Organic compound|organic chemicals]], particularly [[chlorobenzene]], were detected in powder drilled from one of the rocks, named "[[List of rocks on Mars|Cumberland]]", analyzed by the Curiosity rover.<ref name="NASA-20141216-GW" /><ref name="NYT-20141216-KC" />
===Other 2014 events===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| image1            = PIA17751-MarsCuriosityRover-DentedWheelAfter3Miles-20131130.jpg
| width1            = 300
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = NOV-2013 - [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'']]{{'s}} wheel - dents & holes - 3 miles on Mars (30 November 2013).
| image2            = MarsCuriosityRover-WornWheel-20140218.jpg
| width2            = 300
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = FEB-2014 - [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'']]{{'s}} wheel - dents & holes - 3 miles on Mars (18 February 2014).
}}

On 6 February 2014, the ''Curiosity'' rover, in order to reduce wear on its [[:Commons:Category:Curiosity rover wheels|wheels]] by avoiding rougher terrain,<ref name="NASA-20140129">{{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 }}</ref> successfully crossed ([[:File:MarsCuriosityRover-TracksAfterCrossing-DingoGapSandDune-20140206.jpg|image]]) the "[[:File:PIA17931 Martian Valley May Be Curiosity's Route, Figure 1.jpg|Dingo Gap]]" [[sand dune]] and is now expected to travel a smoother route to [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]].<ref name="NASA-20140206">{{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 }}</ref>

On 19 May 2014, scientists announced that numerous [[microbes]], like ''[[Tersicoccus phoenicis]]'', may be resistant to methods usually used in [[Cleanroom|spacecraft assembly clean rooms]]. It's not currently known if such [[Extremophile|resistant microbes]] could have withstood [[Interplanetary spaceflight|space travel]] and are present on the ''Curiosity'' rover now on Mars.<ref name="NAT-20140519">{{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 (journal)|Nature]] |doi=10.1038/nature.2014.15249 |s2cid=87409424 |access-date=23 May 2014 }}</ref>

On 25 May 2014, ''Curiosity'' discovered an [[iron meteorite]], and named it "[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Lebanon]]" ([[:File:PIA18387-MarsCuriosityRover-Lebanon-IronMeteorite-20140525.jpg|image]]).

On 3 June 2014, ''Curiosity'' observed the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] transiting the [[Sun]], marking the first time a [[planetary transit]] has been observed from a celestial body besides [[Earth]].<ref name="NASA-20140610">{{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 }}</ref>

On 24 June 2014, ''Curiosity'' completed a [[Martian year]]—687 Earth days—after finding that Mars once had [[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Evidence for ancient habitability|environmental conditions favorable for microbial life]].<ref name="NASA-20140623">{{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 }}</ref>

On 27 June 2014, ''Curiosity'' crossed the [[:File:Mars Science Laboratory landing ellipse reduced.jpg|boundary line]] of its "[[:File:Curiosity Rover Landing Site - Quadmapping Yellowknife.jpg|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 ([[:File:PIA18399-MarsCuriosityRover-NowOutside3SigmaLandingEllipse-20140627.jpg|view from space]]).<ref name="NASA-20140708">{{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 }}</ref>

On 12 July 2014, ''Curiosity'' imaged the first [[ChemCam|laser spark]] on Mars ([[:File:PIA18401-MarsCuriosityRover-NovaRock-LaserSpark-20140712.jpg|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 [[Bradbury Landing|landing]] on Mars in 2012.<ref name="NASA-20140805">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NYT-20140911" />

== First extended mission (October 2014 - September 2016) ==
[[File:PIA21709-Mars-CuriosityRover-PahrumpHills.jpg|thumb|500px|{{center|1=Pahrump Hills as viewed by the ''Curiosity'' rover (2014).}}]]
On 19 October 2014, the ''Curiosity'' rover viewed the flyby of [[C/2013 A1|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.<ref name="NASA-20141208">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141208">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141208-KC">{{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 }}</ref>

On 16 December 2014, NASA reported detecting an unusual increase, then decrease, in the amounts of [[methane]] in the [[Atmosphere of Mars|atmosphere]] of the planet [[Mars]]; in addition, [[organic chemical]]s were detected in powder drilled from a [[List of rocks on Mars|rock]] by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]]. Also, based on [[deuterium]] to [[hydrogen]] ratio studies, much of the [[Water on Mars|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.<ref name="NASA-20141216-GW" /><ref name="NYT-20141216-KC" /><ref name="SCI-20141216-PRM">{{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 (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 }}</ref>

On 21 January 2015, NASA announced a collaborative effort with [[Microsoft]] that developed a software project called [[:File:MarsCuriosityRover-OnSight-3dSimulation-20150121.jpg|OnSight]] which allows scientists to perform virtual work on Mars based on data from the ''Curiosity ''rover.<ref name="NASA-20150121">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NYT-20150306">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="SP-20150306">{{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 }}</ref>

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 [[Sample Analysis at Mars|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]].<ref name="NASA-20150324">{{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 }}</ref>

On 27 March 2015, NASA reported that the [[Bradbury Landing|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)|''Curiosity'' rover]], of the [[Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmosphere]] using [[xenon]] and [[argon]] [[isotope]]s. Results provided support for a "vigorous" loss of atmosphere early in the history of Mars and were consistent with an [[Climatology|atmospheric signature]] found in bits of atmosphere captured in some [[Martian meteorite]]s found on Earth.<ref name="NASA-20150331">{{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 }}</ref>[[File:PIA21146-MarsCuriosityRover-MudstoneMineralogy-20161213.png|thumb|{{center|1=''Curiosity'' rover - [[Mudstone]] [[Mineralogy]] - 2013 to 2016 on Mars ([[CheMin]]; December 13, 2016)<ref name="NASA-20161213b">{{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 }}</ref>}}]]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.<ref name="NASA-20150819">{{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 }}</ref>

On 5 October 2015, possible [[recurrent slope lineae]], wet [[brine]] flows, were reported on [[Mount Sharp]] near [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'']].<ref name="NYT-20151005-kc">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="NYT-20151005-kc" />

On 8 October 2015, NASA confirmed that lakes and streams existed in [[Gale (crater)|Gale crater]] 3.3 - 3.8 billion years ago delivering sediments to build up the lower layers of [[Mount Sharp]].<ref name="NASA-20151008">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20151009">{{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 (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
 }}</ref>

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 [[Basalt|basaltic rocks]] found earlier. After further analysis, the silica-rich rocks on Mars were found to be [[Tridymite#Mars|tridymite]], a mineral that is not commonly found on Earth. [[Opal#Noncrystalline opal|Opal-A]], another form of silica, was also found on Mars.<ref name="NYT-20151217">{{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 }}</ref>

==Second extended mission (October 2016 - September 2019)==
[[File:PIA21145-MarsCuriosityRoverMission-20161213.png|thumb|600px|{{center|1=Summary of the ''Curiosity'' rover mission (14-fold exaggerated elevation; 13 December 2016)<ref name="NASA-20161213a">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA21145: Curiosity Rover's Martian Mission, Exaggerated Cross Section |url= http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21145 |date=13 December 2016 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=December 15, 2016 }}</ref>}} ]]
The second extended mission began on 1 October 2016.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="NASA-20161003">{{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 }}</ref> Plans for the next two years, up to September 2018, include further explorations of the uphill slopes of [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]], including a ridge rich in the mineral [[hematite]] and a region of clay-rich bedrock.<ref name="NASA-20161003" />

On 13 December 2016, NASA reported further evidence supporting habitability on Mars as the ''Curiosity'' rover climbed higher, studying younger layers, on Mount Sharp.<ref name="NASA-20161213">{{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}}</ref> Also reported, the very soluble element [[boron]] was detected for the first time on Mars.<ref name="NASA-20161213" /> 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.<ref name="NASA-20161213a" />

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 [[Martian soil|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.<ref name="NASA-20170206">{{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 }}</ref>

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."<ref name="NASA-20170227">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Gasda Lanza Meslin Lamm 2024">{{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 }}</ref>

On 1 June 2017, NASA reported that the ''Curiosity'' rover provided evidence of an ancient lake in [[Gale (crater)|Gale crater]] on Mars that could have been favorable for [[microorganism|microbial life]]; the ancient lake was [[Lake stratification|stratified]], with shallows rich in [[Oxidizing agent|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.<ref name="NASA-20170531">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20170601">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20170602">{{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 (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 }}</ref>

Between 22 July – 1 August 2017, few commands were sent from the Earth to Mars since Mars was in [[Conjunction (astronomy)|conjunction]] with the sun.<ref name="ES-20170715">{{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 }}</ref>

On 5 August 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover mission]] landing, and related exploratory accomplishments, on the planet [[Mars]].<ref name="NASA-20170802">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SP-20170805">{{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 }}</ref> (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)|Gale Crater]] on Mars.<ref name="GPL-20170905">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="GZ-20170906">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NASA-20170913">{{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 }}</ref>

On 30 September 2017, NASA reported [[Radiation|radiation levels]] on the surface of the planet [[Mars]] were temporarily [[Orders of magnitude (radiation)|doubled]], and were associated with an [[aurora]] 25-times brighter than any observed earlier, due to a massive, and unexpected, [[Coronal mass ejection|solar storm]] in the middle of the month.<ref name="PHYS-20170930">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NASA-20171023">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="SPC-20180105">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20180103">{{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 }}</ref>

On 22 March 2018, ''Curiosity'' had spent 2000 [[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|sols]] (2054 days) on Mars,<ref name="BBC-20180322">{{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 }}</ref> and prepares to study a region of clay-bearing rocks.

In June 2018, a [[Opportunity mission timeline#Dust storm|local dust storm]] occurred near the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] rover which may affect ''Curiosity''.<ref name="SPC-20180612" /><ref name="NYT-20180613">{{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 }}</ref> The first signs of the storm, {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} from ''Opportunity'', were discovered on 1 June 2018, in [[:File:PIA22329-Mars-DustStorm-20180606.jpg|photographs]] by the [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter#MARCI (camera)|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.<ref name="SPC-20180612">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20180612">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="NASA-20180620">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SPC-20180621">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NASA-20180604">{{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 }}</ref>
[[File:PIA22328-MarsCuriosityRover-Methane-SeasonalCycle-20180607.jpg|thumb|{{center|1=''Curiosity'' detected a cyclical seasonal variation in atmospheric methane.}}]]On 7 June 2018, NASA announced a cyclical seasonal variation in atmospheric [[methane]], as well as the presence of [[kerogen]] and other complex [[organic compound]]s. 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)|Gale crater]]. The rock samples, when [[Pyrolysis|pyrolyzed]] via the ''Curiosity''{{'}}s [[Sample Analysis at Mars]] instrument, released an array of organic molecules; these include sulfur-containing [[thiophene]]s, [[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.<ref name="NASA-20180607">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20180607vid">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SPC-20180607">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20180607">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20180607">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |access-date=7 June 2018 | doi = 10.1126/science.aau3992 |s2cid=115442477 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20180608a">{{cite journal |last=ten Kate |first=Inge Loes |title=Organic molecules on Mars |date=8 June 2018 |journal=[[Science (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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20180608b">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |volume=360 |issue=6393 |pages=1093–1096 |doi=10.1126/science.aaq0131|pmid=29880682 |bibcode=2018Sci...360.1093W |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20180608c">{{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 (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 }}</ref>

Since 15 September 2018, a glitch in ''Curiosity''<nowiki/>'s active computer (Side-B) has prevented ''Curiosity'' from storing science and key engineering data.<ref name=":0"/> On 3 October 2018, the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]] began operating ''Curiosity'' on its backup computer (Side-A).<ref name=":0" /> ''Curiosity'' will store science and engineering data normally using its Side-A computer until the cause of the glitch in Side-B is determined and remedied.<ref name=":0" />

On 4 November 2018, geologists presented evidence, based on studies in [[Gale (crater)|Gale Crater]] by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]], that there was plenty of [[Water on Mars|water]] on early [[Mars]].<ref name="EA-20181103-gsa">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="GSA-20181104">{{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 }}</ref>

On 26 November 2018, ''Curiosity'' viewed a shiny object (named, "Little Colonsay") on Mars.<ref name="NASA-20181128">{{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 }}</ref> Although possibly a meteorite, further studies are planned to better understand its nature.

On 1 February 2019, NASA scientists reported that the [[Curiosity (rover)|Mars ''Curiosity'' rover]] determined, for the first time, the [[density]] of Mount Sharp in [[Gale (crater)|Gale crater]], thereby establishing a clearer understanding of how the mountain was formed.<ref name="NYT-20100131">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20190201">{{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 (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 }}</ref>

On 4 April 2019, [[NASA]] released images of [[solar eclipse]]s by the [[Moons of Mars|two moons of the planet Mars]], [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] ([[:File:PIA23133-MarsCuriosityRover-PhobosEclipse-20190326.gif|animation1]]) and [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]] ([[:File:PIA23134-MarsCuriosityRover-DeimosEclipse-20190317.gif|animation2]]), as viewed by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] on the planet Mars in March 2019.<ref name="NASA-20190404">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="GIZ-20190405">{{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 }}</ref>

On 11 April 2019, NASA announced that the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] on the planet [[Mars]] drilled into, and closely studied, a "[[Clay|clay-bearing unit]]" which, according to the rover Project Manager, is a "major milestone" in ''Curiosity''{{'s}} journey up [[Mount Sharp]].<ref name="NASA-20190411">{{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 }}</ref>

During June 2019, while still studying the clay-bearing unit, ''Curiosity'' detected the highest levels of [[Methane on Mars|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.<ref>{{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]] }}</ref><ref>{{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]] }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20190626">{{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 }}</ref>
== Third extended mission (October 2019 - September 2022) ==
[[File:PIA23179-MarsCuriosityRoverExploersMountSharp-20190515.jpg|thumb|The planned route for ''Curiosity'' to follow as it ascends Mount Sharp during the third extended mission and beyond.  <div align="center"></div>]]The third extended mission began on 1 October 2019 - the rover's 2544th sol on Mars.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="NASA-20191007">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="NG-20191007">{{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 }}</ref>[[File:PIA23977-MarsCuriosityRover-DrillHoles-20200701.jpg|thumb|<div align="center">Curiosity's 26 drill holes as of the 1st of July, 2020.</div>]]

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.<ref name="INV-20200127">{{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 (website)|Inverse]] |access-date=27 January 2020}}</ref>

In February 2020, scientists reported the detection of [[thiophene]] [[Organic compound|organic molecules]] by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] on the planet [[Mars]]. It is not currently known if the detected thiophenes — usually associated on Earth with [[kerogen]], [[coal]] and [[Petroleum|crude oil]] — are the result of biological or non-biological processes.<ref name="AB-20200224">{{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 (journal)|Astrobiology]] |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=552–561 |doi=10.1089/ast.2019.2139 |pmid=32091933 |bibcode=2020AsBio..20..552H |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="PHYS-20200305">{{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 }}</ref>

In April 2020, scientists began operating the rover remotely from their homes due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="NASA-20200414">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="SPC-20200829">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
On 3 July 2021, the ''Curiosity'' rover viewed the "[[:File:PIA24643-MarsCuriosityRover-RafaelNavarroMountain-20210703.jpg|Rafael Navarro Mountain]]" area.

On 1 November 2021, astronomers reported detecting, in a "first-of-its-kind" process based on [[Sample Analysis at Mars|SAM instruments]], [[organic molecules]], including [[benzoic acid]], [[ammonia]] and other related unknown compounds, on the [[Mars|planet Mars]] by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'']] rover.<ref name="INV-20211101">{{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 (website)|Inverse]] |accessdate=2 November 2021 }}</ref><ref name="NAT-20211101">{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="SCI-20220117">{{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 (journal)|Science]] |volume=375 |issue=6578 |page=254 |doi=10.1126/science.ada0234 |pmid=35050666 |s2cid=246151537 |accessdate=18 January 2022 }}</ref><ref name="PNAS-20220125">{{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=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America|PNAS]] |volume=119 |issue=4 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2115651119 |doi-access=free |pmid=35042808 |pmc=8795525 |bibcode=2022PNAS..11915651H }}</ref><ref name="UT-20220121">{{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 }}</ref>

In April 2022, Mars Science Laboratory was renewed for a fourth extended mission, which will include the exploration of the sulfate-bearing unit.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== Fourth extended mission (October 2022 - Present) ==
[[File:PIA26042-MarsCuriosityRover-PathToGedizVallisRidge-Animation-Aug2023.gif|thumb|<div align="center">The planned path of ''Curiosity'' to [[Gediz Vallis Ridge]] and beyond, commencing during the fourth extended mission.</div>]]The rover began its fourth extended mission on 1 October 2022, which will last until October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA Planetary Mission Senior Reviews - PMSR {{!}} Science Mission Directorate |url=https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/documents/senior-review |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=science.nasa.gov}}</ref>

In January 2023, the Curiosity Rover viewed and studied the "Cacao" meteorite.

In August 2023, ''Curiosity'' explored the upper [[Gediz Vallis Ridge]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> A panoramic view of the ridge is [[:File:PIA26019-MarsCuriosityRover-GedizVallisRidge-20230814.jpg|here]], and a 3D rendered view is [[:File:PIA26020-MarsCuriosityRover-GedizVallisRidge-3dRendered-Aug2023.jpg|here]].

In February 2024, Curiosity completed its 40th successful drilling,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> of a rock named "Mineral King" in Gediz Vallis.

In July of 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.<ref>{{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 | date=2024-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==Current status==

===Weather===
* [https://cab.inta-csic.es/rems/marsweather.html Current Weather Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621012418/https://cab.inta-csic.es/rems/marsweather.html |date=21 June 2013 }} on Mars by the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]]
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/ Current Weather Report] on Mars by the ''[[InSight]]'' lander<ref name="GZM-20190220">{{cite news |last=Dvorsky |first=George |title=You Can Now Check the Weather on Mars Every Day |url= https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-check-the-weather-on-mars-every-day-1832752785 |date=20 February 2019 |work=[[Gizmodo]] |access-date=20 February 2019 }}</ref><ref name="AT-20190220">{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |title=With the best air pressure sensor ever on Mars, scientists find a mystery |url= https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/some-weird-things-are-happening-with-air-pressure-on-mars/ |date=20 February 2019 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=20 February 2019 }}</ref>
*[https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/weather/ Current Weather Report] on Mars by the [[Perseverance (rover)|''Perseverance'' rover]]

===Location and travel statistics===
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/where-is-the-rover/ This up-to-date NASA link shows ''Curiosity''{{'}} travels and present location]
[[File:Curiosity Distance Graph.svg|thumb|440x440px|Distance traveled over time by ''Curiosity'']]
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, ''Curiosity'' has been on the [[Mars|planet Mars]] for {{Curiosity Mission Timer}} [[Martian day|sols]] ({{time interval|6 August 2012 05:17:57|show=d|disp=raw}} [[day|total days]]) since landing on 6 August 2012. Since 11 September 2014, ''Curiosity'' has been [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/ exploring] the slopes of [[Aeolis Mons|Mount Sharp]],<ref name="NASA-20140911" /><ref name="NYT-20140911" /> where more information about the [[Geological history of Mars|history of Mars]] is expected to be found.<ref name="NASA-20130806" /> As of 26 January 2021, the rover has traveled over {{convert|24.15|km|mi|abbr=on}} and climbed over {{convert|327|m|ft|abbr=on}} in elevation<ref name="NASA-20130827a">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA17355: Curiosity's Progress on Route from 'Glenelg' to Mount Sharp |url= http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/|date=19 January 2017 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=22 January 2017 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20161213a" /><ref name="NASA-20180130">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Wide-Angle Panorama from Ridge in Mars' Gale Crater |url= https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA22210 |date=30 January 2018 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=31 January 2018 }}</ref> to, and around, the mountain base since arriving at [[Bradbury Landing]] in August 2012.<ref name="NASA-20130827a" /><ref name="NASA-20161213a" />
===Equipment status===
Since early 2015, the percussive mechanism in the drill that helps chisels into rock has had an intermittent electrical [[short circuit]].<ref name=drill-fault>{{cite web | url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/29/internal-debris-may-be-causing-problem-with-mars-rovers-drill/ | title=Internal debris may be causing problem with Mars rover's drill | publisher=Spaceflight Now | first=Stephen | last=Clark | date=29 December 2016 | accessdate=20 March 2024}}</ref>

In December 2016, the motor inside the drill caused a malfunction that prevented the rover from moving its robotic arm and driving to another location.<ref name="popmech20161213">{{cite news |url= http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a24288/nasa-curiosity-arm-drill-stuck/ |title=NASA Is Trying to Get Mars Rover Curiosity's Arm Unstuck |work=Popular Mechanics |agency=Associated Press |date=13 December 2016 |access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> The fault is in the drill feed motor - internal debris is suspected.<ref name=drill-fault/> The fault was determined to be limited to the drill mechanism and the rover started moving again on 9 December. The robotic arm is functional, and the ''Curiosity'' team performed diagnostics on the drill mechanism throughout 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/?View=All|title=Mars Science Laboratory: Curiosity Rover - NASA Science|website=science.nasa.gov}}</ref> On 4 June 2018, NASA announced that ''Curiosity''{{'s}} ability to drill has been sufficiently restored by changing the drilling methods.<ref name="NASA-20180604" />

Since 15 September 2018, a glitch in ''Curiosity''<nowiki/>'s active computer (Side-B) has prevented ''Curiosity'' from storing science and key engineering data.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url= https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/curiosity-rover-to-temporarily-switch-brains|title=Curiosity Rover to Temporarily Switch 'Brains'|last=Greicius|first=Tony|date=2018-10-02|work=NASA|access-date=2018-10-09|language=en}}</ref> On 3 October 2018, the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]] began operating ''Curiosity'' on its backup computer (Side-A).<ref name=":0" /> ''Curiosity'' will store science and engineering data normally using its Side-A computer until the cause of the glitch in Side-B is determined and remedied.<ref name=":0" />

==Self-Portraits==

{{multiple image |align=center |total_width=600 |header=[[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] on [[Mount Sharp]] on [[Mars]] — self-portraits
|width1=5247 |height1=7295 |image1=PIA16239 High-Resolution Self-Portrait by Curiosity Rover Arm Camera.jpg |caption1="[[Rocknest (Mars)|Rocknest]]"<br />(Oc2012)
|width2=5831 |height2=8109 |image2=PIA16937-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortraitAtJohnKlein-20130510.jpg |caption2="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|JohnKlein]]"<br />(Ma2013)
|width3=4576 |height3=6669 |image3=PIA18390-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortraitAtWindjana-20140512.jpg |caption3="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Windjana]]"<br />
(Ma2014)
|width4=1988 |height4=2765 |image4=PIA19142-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Mojave-20150131.jpg |caption4="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Mojave]]"<br />(Ja2015)
|width5=818 |height5=810 |image5=PIA19808-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-BuckskinRock-20150805.jpg |caption5="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Buckskin]]"<br />
(Aug2015)
|width6=5082 |height6=8260 |image6=PIA19920-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Sol1126-20151006-crop.jpg |caption6="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|BigSky]]"<br />
(Oc2015)
|width7=3032 |height7=4216 |image7=PIA20316-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-SandDune-20160119.jpg |caption7="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Namib]]"<br />(Ja2016) 
|width8=1673 |height8=2121 |image8=PIA20844-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Sol1466-20160920.jpg |caption8="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Murray]]"<br />(Se2016)
}}
{{multiple image |align=center |total_width=600 |header=<!---[[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] on [[Mount Sharp]] on [[Mars]] — self-portraits--->
|width9=3864 |height9=5040|image9=PIA22207-Mars-CuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-20180123.jpg |caption9="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|VeraRub]]"<br />(Ja2018) 
|width10=4392 |height10=6066|image10=NASA-CuriosityRover-Selfie-June2018.jpg |caption10="[[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#2018 events|DustStrm]]"<br />
(Ju2018)
|width11=4050 |height11=5760 |image11=PIA22960-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-RockHall-VeraRubinRidge-20190115.jpg |caption11="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|VeraRub]]"<br />(Ja2019)
|width12=4811 |height12=7174 |image12=PIA23240-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-Aberlady-Kilmarie-20190512.jpg |caption12="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Aberlady]]"<br />(Ma2019)
|width13=1792 |height13=3276 |image13=PIA23378-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-GlenEtive-20191011.jpg|caption13="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|GlenE]]"<br />(Oc2019)
|width14=3774 |height14=5474 
|image14=PIA24173-MarsCuriosityRover-SelfPortrait-20201112.jpg|caption14="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|MaryAnn]]"<br />(No2020)
|image15=MSL Sol 3070 - MAHLI (Version 2) (51084526931).jpg
|caption15="MtMercou"<br />(March 2021)  |image16=PIA24938-MarsCuriosityRover-GreenheughPediment-20211120.jpg|caption16="[[List of rocks on Mars#Curiosity|Greenh]]"<br />(No2021)
|width16=3774 |height16=5474
}}
[[File:PIA23624-MarsCuriosityRover-HuttonDrillSite-20200226.jpg|thumb|600px|center|<div align="center">''Curiosity'' rover self-portrait ("Hutton" Drill Site; 26 February 2020)</div>]]

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aeolis quadrangle]]
* [[Astrobiology]]
* [[Composition of Mars]]
* [[ExoMars|ExoMars programme]]
* [[Exploration of Mars]]
* [[Geography of Mars]]
* [[Geology of Mars]]
* [[InSight|''InSight'' lander]]
* [[List of missions to Mars]]
* [[List of rocks on Mars]]
* [[Mars Exploration Rover]]
* ''[[Mars Express]]'' orbiter
* [[2001 Mars Odyssey|''Mars Odyssey Orbiter'']]
* [[Mars Orbiter Mission]]
* [[Mars Pathfinder|''Mars Pathfinder'' (''Sojourner'' rover)]]
* [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]
* [[Mars 2020 rover mission]]
* [[MAVEN|''MAVEN'' orbiter]]
* [[Moons of Mars]]
* [[Phoenix (spacecraft)|''Phoenix'' lander]]
* [[Robotic spacecraft]]
* [[Scientific information from the Mars Exploration Rover mission]]
* [[Space exploration]]
* [[Timeline of Mars 2020]]
* [[U.S. Space Exploration History on U.S. Stamps]]
* [[Viking program]]
* [[Water on Mars]]
{{div col end}}
{{Clear}}

==References==
<!--Please consider using this "Reference generator" page for correct reference format:
http://toolserver.org/~magnus/makeref.php
-->
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/ ''Curiosity'' Rover Official Page.]
* [https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html MSL/NASA Official Page.]
* [[Atmosphere of Mars|Mars Weather]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210410062007/https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/weather/ ''Perseverance'']*[https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/ ''Curiosity'']*[https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/ ''InSight'']<!---({{small|[http://www.csgnetwork.com/temp2conv.html TempConv]}})---> 
* [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/science/space/mars-curiosity-rover-tracker.html ''Curiosity'' Rover Tracker (6 August 2012 to 5 August 2013 and beyond).] 
* [https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/4-billion-pixel-mars-panorama/ Panoramic View of Gale Crater on Mars (4 billion pixels)] (March 2013).
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr1Xu2i-Uc0 Video (04:32) - ''Evidence for 'Vigorously' Flowing Water on Ancient Mars''] (September 2012).
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DZl56tS9ko Video (02:52) - ''Curiosity''{{'s}} view from Mount Sharp] ([[NASA]]; August 2021)
* [https://archive.today/20140627092658/https://webcast.stsci.edu/webcast/detail.xhtml?talkid=4006 STScI Webcast Catalog and Archive] - ([[Robert Hazen]]; [[NASA]]; April 2014). 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNjuz6MO0eU Video (86:49) - ''Search for Life in the Universe''] - ([[NASA]]; July 2014).

{{Curiosity Rover Timeline}}
{{MSL}}
{{Mars rovers}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}
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