Here Are The 44 Best Photos That NASA’s Curiosity Has Taken After 7 Years On Mars

For us, mere mortals, Mars is a no man's land where survival seems like a distant dream. After all, no man has ever walked on its surface (as far as we know) and plans to send one to the red planet are only in the early stages of its development. However, humans have touched Mars through the durable wheels of Mars rovers. We've had 4 successful robotically operated Mars rovers (all of which were managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA) so far: Sojourner, Opportunity, Spirit, and Curiosity. 

As Opportunity's mission was declared complete on February 13, 2019 when NASA lost all contact with the vehicle, Curiosity became the lone survivor on the red planet, rolling over its surface to examine and explore the unknown land all by itself. The spacecraft first landed on Mars on August 6, 2012 and started carrying out its objectives throughout the years. In fact, Curiosity did its job so well and held on for so long that its original mission duration of 687 days was expanded indefinitely. 

Here's how Curiosity looked 7 years ago and now

#1 

Sunset Sequence In Mars' Gale Crater

#2 

Ripples On Surface Of Martian Sand Dune

#3 

First Sampling Hole In Mount Sharp

#4 

Curiosity's Color View Of Martian Dune After Crossing It

#5 

Curiosity Rover Finds And Examines A Meteorite On Mars

#6 

Curiosity's Dusty Selfie At Duluth

7 

Multiple Layers Of Mount Sharp

8 

Martian Rock 'Harrison' In Color, Showing Crystals

#9 

A Mudstone Rock Outcrop At The Base Of Mount Sharp

0 

Getting To Know Mount Sharp

#11 

Wheel Scuff Mark At 'Rocknest'

12 

Strata At Base Of Mount Sharp

#13 

Curiosity Tracks In 'Hidden Valley' On Mars

#14 

Jake Matijevic Rock

15 

Curiosity Self-Portrait At Martian Sand Dune

#16 

Mars Rover Curiosity In 'Buckskin' Selfie

#17 

Curiosity Self-Portrait At 'Windjana' Drilling Site

#18 

Layers At The Base Of Mount Sharp

#19 

Curiosity Visited An Area Named "Fracture Town" Which Contains Many Pointed, Layered Rock Formations

0 

Curiosity Arrived At This Active Sand Dune Named "Gobabeb", Which Is Part Of A Larger Dune Field Known As "Bagnold"

#21 

Curiosity Took Dozens Of Mast Cam Images To Complete This Mosaic Of A Petrified Sand Dune

#22 

Veins In 'Sheepbed' Outcrop

#23 

Having Reached The Base Of Mount Sharp, Curiosity Captured This Image Of Its Rocky Surroundings

24 

Outcrop In The Murray Buttes Region Of Lower Mount Sharp

#25 

Glimpse Of 'Bagnold Dunes' Edging Mount Sharp

#26 

Mount Sharp Comes In Sharply

27 

Curiosity Rover's View Of Alluring Martian Geology

#28 

Resistant Features In 'Pahrump Hills' Outcrop

#29 

Differential Erosion At Work On Martian Sandstones

#30 

Erosion By Scarp Retreat In Gale Crater

#31 

Curiosity Mars Rover Approaches 'Dingo Gap,' Mastcam View

#32 

Remnants Of Ancient Streambed On Mars

#33 

View From Mars Orbiter Showing Curiosity Rover At 'Shaler'

#34 

View From 'Rocknest' Position Of Curiosity Mars Rover

#35 

'Shaler' Outcrop, Sol 120

#36 

Focusing The 100-Millimeter Mastcam

#37 

Routine Inspection Of Rover Wheel Wear And Tear

#38 

Bone Up On Mars Rock Shapes

9 

A Valley To The West From The Eastern Side Of A Dune At The Eastern End Of The Valley

#40 

View Of Yellowknife Bay Formation, With Drilling Sites

#41 

'snake River' Rock Feature Viewed By Curiosity Mars Rover

#42 

Spherules In 'Yellowknife Bay'

#43 

Focusing The 34-Millimeter Mastcam

#44 

Destination Mount Sharp