What does it take to be selected for space missions? Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station reveal the key crucial characteristics that make up “the right stuff.” Newly released images from NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover show a 12-hour time-lapse on the red planet from sunrise to sunset.
NASA’s Curiosity rover, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in November 2011 and landed on Mars in August 2012, has been on a mission to identify whether Gale Crater, an area thought to be a dried-up lake, was habitable in the distant past. The rover has traveled nearly 20 miles on the red planet and captured over 1.1 million images.
Scientists hoped that capturing a time-lapse from Mars could reveal cloud or dust devil activity, leading to insights about the weather on the planet. The images, taken while the rover was parked on Nov. 8, 2023, provided a detailed look at the planet’s surface.
The time-lapse was captured using Curiosity’s black-and-white Hazard-Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams), which are used by NASA scientists to navigate around rocks, debris, and other threats. The first video shows images from the front Hazcam, revealing a view of a valley on Mount Sharp, a mountain at the center of Gale Crater. Curiosity has been ascending the 3-mile tall mountain since 2014, collecting soil samples along the way for analysis. These samples will give insights into whether the planet is capable of supporting microbial life. So far, 39 samples have been collected.
In addition to the stunning views of the Martian surface, the time-lapse also shows the shadow of the rover and its 7-foot robotic arm as the sky brightens. The rover, which is about the size of a small SUV, provides a unique perspective on the landscape of Mars.
The second video captured by the rear Hazcam reveals a sight down the slopes of Mount Sharp to the Gale Crater. The speckled appearance of the images, particularly from the rear-facing Hazcam, is a result of 11 years of Martian dust accumulating on the cameras. In one frame, a small black speck briefly appears and disappears, caused by a cosmic ray hitting the camera sensor.
These time-lapse images offer valuable insights into the surface of Mars and contribute to our understanding of the planet’s weather patterns and geological features. The data collected by Curiosity is crucial in determining if Mars was habitable in the past and if it could support microbial life.
Overall, NASA’s ongoing mission with the Curiosity rover continues to provide remarkable discoveries and pave the way for future space exploration endeavors.
