Image Shows What 14 Years of Driving Has Done to NASA's Mars Rover

2 days ago

NASA's Curiosity rover has been operating on Mars since 2012, covering over 20 miles of rough terrain, resulting in significant wear and tear on its aluminum wheels, including jagged holes, cracked treads, and torn metal.
Despite the damage, Curiosity continues to provide scientific data, and NASA engineers are working to extend its lifespan by rerouting around sharp terrain and developing traction control software to prevent further damage.
The wheels are made of thin aluminum (half the thickness of a dime) with protective grousers, but sharp rocks on Mars have caused damage since 2013, with several grousers breaking and holes enlarging over time.
NASA monitors wheel condition regularly using the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager, and the mission is extended indefinitely to maximize data collection until the rover fails.
Curiosity has achieved key milestones, such as finding evidence of ancient water, while its successor, Perseverance, continues to capture high-quality images of Mars.

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