Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Curiosity Front Hazcam Left B image taken on Sol 1771, July 30, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Now in Sol 1775, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has begun to return imagery from the Red Planet. Images for Sol 1774 have been posted from the Front Hazard and Rear Avoidance Cameras.

Last month, movements of the planets put Mars almost directly behind the Sun, from Earth’s perspective, causing curtailed communications between Earth and Mars.

Anniversary ahead

Meanwhile, there’s an anniversary coming for Curiosity. The robot landed near Mount Sharp five years ago this week: August 5, 2012.

Mission controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California received radio confirmation and first images on that date from Curiosity after the rover’s touchdown using a new “sky crane” landing method.

Sky Crane lowers Curiosity Mars rover onto the surface of the Red Planet.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Science duties

Since touchdown on the Red Planet, Curiosity rover has been reconnoitering Gale Crater and surrounding territory, wheeling about to discern the history of Mars and its potential to support life.

As of Sol 1754, the wheeled Mars machinery has driven roughly 10.57 miles (17.01 kilometers).

For a newly released JPL video, take a tour of Curiosity’s landing site, Gale Crater, at:

https://youtu.be/Q-uAz82sH-E?list=PLTiv_XWHnOZpzQKYC6nLf6M9AuBbng_O8

Also, go to this new video showing imagery taken by Curiosity following five years of wheeling about on Mars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0nPFaBU98k