Visible from space: Curiosity tire tracks on Mars

By Seth Borenstein

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Sept. 6 2012 1:20 p.m. MDT

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This handout photo provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows the surroundings of the location where NASA Mars rover Curiosity arrived on Sept. 4, 2012.

Associated Press/NASA

Summary

NASA's robotic rover Curiosity is making its mark on Mars. Its tracks are big enough to be seen from space.

WASHINGTON — NASA's robotic rover Curiosity is making its mark on Mars. Its tracks are big enough to be seen from space.

In just one month, it's driven 368 feet on the red planet, slightly more than the length of a football field. Curiosity's slightly zig-zaggy tire tracks were photographed by a NASA satellite circling Mars and also from the rover's rear-facing cameras.

The spacecraft landed on Aug. 5 on a mission to look for ingredients that could support life.

Mission manager Michael Watkins said Thursday that the rover team gave each other high fives when the images arrived.

Curiosity won't be traveling more for several days. Engineers will spend the next week checking out the rover's crucial robotic arm and scientific instruments.

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