Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Rock embedded into wheel of NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity. The robot acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm, on April 30, 2015, Sol 971.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has advanced through a sandy-floored valley, busily inspecting the lower slopes of a layered mountain, Mount Sharp.

The Mars machinery is busy investigating how the region’s ancient environment evolved from lakes and rivers to much drier conditions.

Sweeping view from Curiosity taken on April 23, 2015, Sol 964.
Credit NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS

New imagery shows the robot taking hits to its wheels, including a lodged rock in one wheel.

After landing on Mars Aug. 5, 2012 (California time), Curiosity spent much of its first 12 months on the Red Planet studying locations close to its landing site north of Mount Sharp.

Findings during that period and subsequent treks continue to gather evidence for ancient rivers and a lakebed environment that offer conditions favorable for microbial life – if Mars has ever hosted life.

Curiosity’s Front Hazcam: Left B image taken on April 30, Sol 971.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Curiosity’s ChemCam: Remote Micro-Imager taken on April 30, Sol 971.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL

Navcam: Left B image from NASA’s Mars rover April 30, on Sol 971.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech