Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

General

NASA’s Curiosity Rover May Have Solved Mars’ Missing Carbonate Mystery

New findings from NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover could provide an answer to the mystery of what happened to the planet’s ancient atmosphere and how Mars has evolved over time. Researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the planet’s surface. That carbon dioxide and water should […]

Posted April 17, 2025

Astrobiology

Goddard Space Flight Center

Mars

Mars Exploration Program

Missions

NASA Centers & Facilities

NASA Directorates

Planetary Science

Planetary Science Division

Planets

Science & Research

Science Mission Directorate

The Search for Life

The Solar System

The Universe

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Detects Largest Organic Molecules Found on Mars

Researchers analyzing pulverized rock onboard NASA’s Curiosity rover have found the largest organic compounds on the Red Planet to date. The finding, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests prebiotic chemistry may have advanced further on Mars than previously observed.

Posted March 24, 2025

Mars

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS)

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Colorful Clouds Drifting Over Mars

While the Martian clouds may look like the kind seen in Earth’s skies, they include frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice. Red-and-green-tinted clouds drift through the Martian sky in a new set of images captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover using its Mastcam — its main set of “eyes.” Taken over 16 minutes on Jan. 17 […]

Posted February 11, 2025

Mars

NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Takes a Last Look at Mysterious Sulfur

The rover captured a 360-degree panorama before leaving Gediz Vallis channel, a feature it’s been exploring for the past year. NASA’s Curiosity rover is preparing for the next leg of its journey, a monthslong trek to a formation called the boxwork, a set of weblike patterns on Mars’ surface that stretches for miles. It will […]

Posted November 18, 2024

Mars

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS)

Here’s How Curiosity’s Sky Crane Changed the Way NASA Explores Mars

Twelve years ago, NASA landed its six-wheeled science lab using a daring new technology that lowers the rover using a robotic jetpack. NASA’s Curiosity rover mission is celebrating a dozen years on the Red Planet, where the six-wheeled scientist continues to make big discoveries as it inches up the foothills of a Martian mountain. Just […]

Posted August 7, 2024

InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport)

ExoMars

Goddard Space Flight Center

Mars

Mars 2020

Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Mars Express

Mars Odyssey

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)

Mars Sample Return (MSR)

MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN)

Missions

Opportunity (Rover)

Perseverance (Rover)

The Solar System

Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO)

10 Things for Mars 10

Scientists from around the world are gathering this week in California to take stock of the state of science from Mars and discuss goals for the next steps in exploration of the Red Planet. In the spirit of Mars 10, formally known as the 10th International Conference on Mars, here are 10 recent significant events […]

Posted July 24, 2024

Mars

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Discovers a Surprise in a Martian Rock

Among several recent findings, the rover has found rocks made of pure sulfur — a first on the Red Planet. Scientists were stunned on May 30 when a rock that NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover drove over cracked open to reveal something never seen before on the Red Planet: yellow sulfur crystals. Since October 2023, the […]

Posted July 18, 2024

Mars

Goddard Space Flight Center

Heliophysics

MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN)

The Solar System

The Sun

NASA Scientists Gear Up for Solar Storms at Mars

The Sun will be at peak activity this year, providing a rare opportunity to study how solar storms and radiation could affect future astronauts on the Red Planet. In the months ahead, two of NASA’s Mars spacecraft will have an unprecedented opportunity to study how solar flares — giant explosions on the Sun’s surface — […]

Posted April 29, 2024

Blogs

Mars