Mission Overview and Scientific Contributions from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover After Eight Years of Surface Operations

Abstract

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, with its Curiosity rover, has been exploring Gale crater (5.4° S, 137.8° E) since 2012 with the goal of assessing the potential of Mars to support life. The mission has compiled compelling evidence that the crater basin accumulated sediment transported by marginal rivers into lakes that likely persisted for millions of years approximately 3.6 Ga ago in the early Hesperian. Geochemical and mineralogical assessments indicate that environmental conditions within this timeframe would have been suitable for sustaining life, if it ever were present. Fluids simultaneously circulated in the subsurface and likely existed through the dry phases of lake bed exposure and aeolian deposition, conceivably creating a continuously habitable subsurface environment that persisted to less than 3 Ga in the early Amazonian. A diversity of organic molecules has been preserved, though degraded, with evidence for more complex precursors. Solid samples show highly variable isotopic abundances of sulfur, chlorine, and carbon. In situ studies of modern wind-driven sediment transport and multiple large and active aeolian deposits have led to advances in understanding bedform development and the initiation of saltation. Investigation of the modern atmosphere and environment has improved constraints on the timing and magnitude of atmospheric loss, revealed the presence of methane and the crater’s influence on local meteorology, and provided measurements of high-energy radiation at Mars’ surface in preparation for future crewed missions. Rover systems and science instruments remain capable of addressing all key scientific objectives. Emphases on advance planning, flexibility, operations support work, and team culture have allowed the mission team to maintain a high level of productivity in spite of declining rover power and funding.

Winds at the Mars 2020 Landing Site: 1. Near‐Surface Wind Patterns at Jezero Crater

“…To date, these wind patterns are the most complex ever seen on Mars due to strong constructive and destructive interactions between different scales variably affecting the near‐surface atmosphere in the crater. Wind‐driven erosion signatures and sand transport have also been repeatedly observed by the mission (e.g., Schieber et al., 2020; Sullivan & Kok, 2017; Vasavada, 2022, and references therein). Local winds in Gale crater have been proposed to drive the abundance of methane detected by MSL near the surface and could even induce advective flows in the regolith (e.g., Etiope & Oehler, 2019; Viúdez‐Moreiras, 2021; Viúdez‐Moreiras, Arvidson, et al., 2020; Webster et al., 2018).…”

Planetary Waves Traveling Between Mars Science Laboratory and Mars 2020

“…REMS (Gómez‐Elvira et al., 2012; Harri et al., 2014; Vasavada, 2022) data are compared to MEDA and a reanalysis. MEDA is the main meteorological package on M2020 and consists of a wind sensor, barometer, relative humidity (RH) sensor, thermocouples to measure temperature around 1.45 and 0.84 m above the surface, a Thermal Infrared Sensor to measure the ground temperature and radiative fluxes, and a radiation and dust sensor to measure solar flux and dust optical properties (Rodriguez‐Manfredi, de la Torre Juárez, Alonso et al., 2021).…”

Statistical Analysis of APXS‐Derived Chemistry of the Clay‐Bearing Glen Torridon Region and Mount Sharp Group, Gale Crater, Mars

“…The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity has been exploring Gale crater, Mars, since August 2012 with the primary goal of seeking and characterizing past habitable environments (Grotzinger et al., 2012; Vasavada, 2022). Gale crater is a ∼155 km diameter impact crater, with a 5 km high central mound, Aeolis Mons, (informally known as Mount Sharp) (Golombek et al., 2012; Grotzinger et al., 2012; Milliken et al., 2010).…”