More then five years ago Curiosity landed on Mars, the best photos of his "road trip"
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x382_crop/2017/08/06/XVMb776cdaa-7a9b-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257.jpg)
The robot has confirmed the presence of a lake on the red planet several million years ago.
The Curiosity rover landed on Mars on August 6, 2012 in the crater of Gale. Its main mission: to trace the history of the red planet.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVMe96df96e-7a8c-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x538.jpg)
Since his arrival, the robot has traveled 17 kilometers. Curiosity is the size of a small 4x4 with six wheels weighing 899 kg.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVM1715bf64-7a9c-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x453.jpg)
It is equipped with a laboratory to search organic molecules, but also other devices measure radiation, for example. The images and information collected are transmitted from Mars to Earth, about 240 million kilometers, in just fourteen minutes.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVMf141258a-7a8c-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x612.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVMcb8e8b7a-7aa0-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x718.jpg)
The rover has identified favorable conditions for life. In 2012, Curiosity confirmed the presence of an ancient lake in the crater of Gale, where it landed. In particular, he discovered traces of perchlorates, salts found in water.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVMfea91af2-7a8c-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x508.jpg)
At the end of 2016, the robot had some small difficulties . When Curiosity was ordered to drill, his arm was deployed but the drill did not work. To avoid damaging it, the operators preferred to immobilize it on 1 December in order to carry out checks.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVM19590d44-7a8d-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x514.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://i.f1g.fr/media/figaro/680x/2017/08/06/XVM0d42f9b6-7a8d-11e7-a269-a7211f8a3257-805x229.jpg)
Curiosity is since 2014 on Mount Sharp, its last step. The robot continues to take samples of the red planet to know the extent of its history. A new craft is expected to arrive on Mars in 2021, Curiosity 2. In the footsteps of his predecessor, he will have to discover the past of the planet.
You got a 23.81% upvote from @redlambo courtesy of @verma!
This post has received a 4.00 % upvote, thanks to: @verma.