Inspenet, August 10, 2023.
August 6, 2023 was the eleventh anniversary of NASA’s Curiosity mission. In honor of this occasion, the rover completed its ascent of Jau Hill on Mars , a journey that spanned several weeks.
Curiosity: the rover’s achievement
The rover touched down on Mars on August 6, 2012, and has since flown multiple missions. However, the recent ascent into the Jau highlands constituted the most significant challenge in the mission’s history. During this trip, the rover demonstrated its ability to overcome obstacles, avoiding boulders on slippery and sandy surfaces.
Jau Hill is located in the highlands at the foot of Mount Aeolis, which rises 5 kilometers high, within Gale Crater. Scientists maintain that this place housed lakes and rivers billions of years ago. Curiosity’s ascent to higher altitudes in this region provides scientists with a greater understanding of how the Martian landscape has evolved over time.
It is important to note that NASA scientists do not control the rover in real time ; it follows a predefined path. To plot this route, NASA uses data obtained from satellites, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which plays a key role in the mission.
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