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Curiosity Mars Rover Sent To Mount Sharp By Nasa Operators To Fulfil Primary Mission

Curiosity Starts Long Trek To Mount Sharp
Huffington Post UK

The Curiosity Mars rover has begun the long - and potentially fatal - trek to its primary mission destination, Mount Sharp.

Since it landed seven months ago the Nasa robot has been examining a site near its touchdown point analysing rock composition.

Curiosity faces a five mile journey to the base of the 18,000ft mountain - expected to take around nine months.

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The wheel tracks left by Curiosity's first stint in the mission

Nasa scientists hope the area will show how the martian planet's environment changed and evolved.

It won't be easy. Perilous sand dunes could trap the rover if it is not steered accurately.

The Curiosity mission has already been a resounding success.

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A picture of the base of Mount Sharp taken by Curiosity

Its primary goal to find "evidence for an ancient wet environment that had conditions favorable for microbial life" has already been accomplished.

Curiosity is one of two functioning rovers on Mars. The other, Opportunity, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its launch on Tuesday.

Mars Photos From NASA Curiosity
Mount Sharp(01 of13)
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This image taken by the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover highlights the geology of Mount Sharp, a mountain inside Gale Crater, where the rover landed. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Base Of Mount Sharp(02 of13)
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(credit:NASA/JPL)
South/Southwest Of Landing Site(03 of13)
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This photo is from a test series of the 100-millimeter Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover. It is looking south-southwest of the landing site and taken on Aug. 23, 2012. (credit:NASA/JPL)
More From Mast Cam(04 of13)
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Another test photo from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity Rover. Again, it's looking south-southwest on Aug. 23, 2012. The gravelly area of the landing site is visible in the foreground. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Landing Site(05 of13)
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The landing site is visibile here in this portion of a 360-degree color panorama along the heights of Mount Sharp. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Big Wheels Rolling(06 of13)
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This photo was taken by a front Hazard-Avoidance camera on NASA's Curiosity and shows track marks from the rover's first Martian drives. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Curiosity's Second Drive(07 of13)
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Track marks are seen here after the NASA Curiosity rover completes a successful drive to an area of bedrock. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Infinity Tracks(08 of13)
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The donut-shaped tracks shown here make an infinity symbol, following the first two drives from NASA's curiosity rover. The drives took place on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27, respectively.
Heights Of Mount Sharp(09 of13)
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The highest point of Mount Sharp visible from NASA's Curiosity rover is seen here in a high-resolution image taken on Aug. 18.
Traces Of The Landing(10 of13)
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This mosaic image was created from images taken by the rover's Navigation cameras on Aug. 7 Pacific Time / Aug. 8 Eastern Time. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Curiosity's Extended Arm(11 of13)
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This photo taken on Aug. 20 shows the many tools on Curiosity's extended arm. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Rover Takes First 'Steps'(12 of13)
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This overhead view shows NASA's Curiosity rover after its first successful test drive on Aug. 22, 2012. (credit:NASA/JPL)
Another Look At Rover's First Steps(13 of13)
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Here's another view of the first track marks Rover left in the Martian surface on Aug. 22, 2012. (credit:NASA/JPL)
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