While the NASA Curiosity rover has been seen in several images from space, the new image from the NASA Orbiter stands out. This is because the image is the first time that the Curiosity rover has been photographed mid-drive across the planet’s surface.
NASA Curiosity Rover Captured In A Remarkable Photograph
On 28 February 2025, the NASA Orbiter stationed in the planet’s atmosphere captured a remarkable photo of the NASA Curiosity Rover. From the image, we can see the Curiosity rover driving across Mars’ surface, leaving behind visible tracks.
While there are several orbiters observing Mars, the orbiter responsible for this image is NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. It was able to take such a remarkable image thanks to its HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera.
This image was taken while the Curiosity Rover was en route from the Gediz Vallis channel to its next exploration stop. According to NASA, this stop will be at a region with what the agency believes to be a boxwork formation made by underground water aeons ago.
One impressive detail about this trip is the speed at which the Curiosity rover is travelling. Its top speed is 0.1 mph, which is slower than the average human’s walking steps, about 2.5mph.
How Does The NASA Orbiter Take Images?
The HiRISE camera on the NASA Orbiter takes images of Mars’ surface from space, uniquely. NASA says that the camera’s method of taking pictures ensures “the best spatial resolution.”
From the official blog on this topic, we learn that “HiRISE takes an image with the majority of the scene in black and white and a strip of colour down the middle.” For this image, which is in black and white, the NASA Curiosity rover fell into the black and white sensor region on the HiRISE camera.
In the past, the NASA Orbiter has taken images of the Curiosity rover in the more colourful region of the HiRISE camera. We might get to see more images of the NASA Curiosity rover taken from the NASA Orbiter as both continue their exploration mission.
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