NASA · Aerospace · 2012
Car-sized nuclear-powered rover, the heart of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. Landed in Gale Crater on 6 August 2012 using the novel Sky Crane delivery system. Still operational after 13+ years, has traversed over 35 km exploring Mount Sharp's sedimentary layers. Confirmed Mars once had habitable freshwater lake environments and detected complex organic molecules.
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View full interactive profile, comparisons & videos →| Category | Aerospace |
| Sub-type | Mars Rover |
| Status | Active |
| Year | 2012 |
| Origin | USA |
| Also known as | Mars Science Laboratory, MSL |
| Announced | 2004 |
| Released | 2012-08-06 |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 2200 × 2700 × 3000 mm |
| Weight | 899 kg |
| Frame | Titanium frame, aluminum honeycomb panels |
| Degrees of freedom | 7 |
| Payload | 1 kg |
| Reach | 2100 mm |
| Max speed | 0.042 m/s |
| Camera | 17 cameras total: Mastcam stereo, Navcam stereo, 8 Hazcams, MAHLI hand lens, MARDI descent imager, ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager |
| Chipset | BAE Systems RAD750 (dual redundant) |
| Actuator type | Brushless DC motors, rocker-bogie suspension with 6 independently driven wheels |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Made in | USA |