Science

Mission of the Year: Best of Curiosity Rover's Incredible Journey

After an acrobatic plunge through the Martian atmosphere, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity touched down safely in Gale Crater. Immediately, the rover began shooting photos, beaming them back to scientists and engineers waiting eagerly on Earth. Here, we've gathered some of our favorite images from (and of) Curiosity.
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  • Ultimate SelfPortrait
  • Ultra HighRes Descent Video
  • Parachuting Into Gale
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After an acrobatic plunge through the Martian atmosphere, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity touched down safely in Gale Crater. Immediately, the rover began shooting photos, beaming them back to scientists and engineers waiting eagerly on Earth. Here, we've gathered some of our favorite images from (and of) Curiosity. Above:

Ultimate Self-Portrait

Curiosity has taken many pictures of itself, but this one — from Mars day 84 — is probably our favorite. The high-res photo combines 55 images and shows the rover parked near a site named "Rocknest," where it scooped its first sample of Mars soil. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems