Mars
Curiosity Rover
In some sense, the Mars Science Laboratory rover's parts are similar to what any living creature would need to keep it "alive" and able to explore.
The rover has a:
| Body: | a structure that protects the rovers' "vital organs" |
| Brains: | computers to process information |
| Eyes and other "senses": | cameras and instruments that give the rover information about its environment |
| Arm and "hand": | a way to extend its reach and collect rock samples for study |
| Wheels and "legs": | parts for mobility |
| Energy: | batteries and power |
| Communications: | antennas for "speaking" and "listening" |
| Temperature controls: | internal heaters, a layer of insulation, and more |
| "Neck and head": | a mast for the cameras to give the rover a human-scale view |
3D Model of Curiosity Rover: Click (or touch) and drag to interact with this 3D model of the Curiosity Rover.
| Mission name: | Mars Science Laboratory |
| Rover name: | Curiosity |
| Size: | About the size of a small SUV — 10 feet long (not including the arm), 9 feet wide and 7 feet tall — (about 3 meters long (not including the arm), 2.7 meters wide, and 2.2 meters tall), or about the height of a basketball player. |
| Arm reach: | About 7 feet (2.2 meters) |
| Mass/Weight: | 899 kg (1,982 lbs in Earth gravity; 743 lbs in Mars gravity) |
| Features: | Geology lab, rocker-bogie suspension, rock-vaporizing laser and lots of cameras |
| Mission: | To search areas of Mars for past or present conditions favorable for life, and conditions capable of preserving a record of life |
| Launched: | 7:02 a.m. PST, Nov. 26, 2011 (10:02 a.m. EST) |
| Landed: | 10:32 p.m. PDT, Aug. 5, 2012 (1:32 a.m. EDT, Aug. 6, 2012) |
| Length of mission on Mars: | The prime mission lasted one Mars year or about 23 Earth months, and Curiosity continues to operate on Mars today. |
| Mission Fact sheet: | Download the Mars Science Laboratory Fact Sheet (PDF, 1.44 MB) |
