HOME | DD

Description
On Sol 4088 (February 5, 2024), another wheel check was made on the rover.
This was documented by MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager).

MAHLI is a high-resolution color camera at the front end of Curiosity's 2-meter-long robotic arm.

The instrument is primarily used as a kind of microscope for the optical investigation of very fine structures and features on the surface of Mars.
MAHLI is intended to image the rocks, grains of sand and dust and any frost deposits at close range.

Every few months, however, the camera is also used to take a look at the wheels and their engineering.

The damage to the treads of the wheels is due to wear and tear over the past 11.5 years on Mars and the fact that the rover drivers paid little attention to sharp-edged rocks on the ground during the first few years of the mission.

The damage mainly exists since the end of 2013.

The cracks, dents and holes on the tread led to the decision to take detours in the future and drive the Rover over less bumpy terrain.

The wheels, which are made of an aluminum alloy, are reinforced with titanium crossbars and are still fully operational even if the treads are badly damaged.

Theoretically, Curiosity could also drive without the treads, i.e. only on the crossbars, but this would be at the expense of the grip or traction of the wheels.
The rover would probably have massive problems to climb or would not be able to manage inclines at all.

Curiosity is operating at the base of "Mount Sharp" (also known as "Aeolis Mons"), the approximately 5 km high central uplift of the Gale crater.
Since its landing in August 2012, the rover has "climbed" many hundreds of meters - and it continues to "climb".

However, there is no possibility of climbing the mountain. The rover will remain at the base of Mount Sharp.

The checks are performed regularly (approx. 2x to 3x per year).

All MAHLI images from the wheel check: shorturl.at/quxZ9

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Description
On Sol 4088 (February 5, 2024), another wheel check was made on the rover.
This was documented by MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager).

MAHLI is a high-resolution color camera at the front end of Curiosity's 2-meter-long robotic arm.

The instrument is primarily used as a kind of microscope for the optical investigation of very fine structures and features on the surface of Mars.
MAHLI is intended to image the rocks, grains of sand and dust and any frost deposits at close range.

Every few months, however, the camera is also used to take a look at the wheels and their engineering.

The damage to the treads of the wheels is due to wear and tear over the past 11.5 years on Mars and the fact that the rover drivers paid little attention to sharp-edged rocks on the ground during the first few years of the mission.

The damage mainly exists since the end of 2013.

The cracks, dents and holes on the tread led to the decision to take detours in the future and drive the Rover over less bumpy terrain.

The wheels, which are made of an aluminum alloy, are reinforced with titanium crossbars and are still fully operational even if the treads are badly damaged.

Theoretically, Curiosity could also drive without the treads, i.e. only on the crossbars, but this would be at the expense of the grip or traction of the wheels.
The rover would probably have massive problems to climb or would not be able to manage inclines at all.

Curiosity is operating at the base of "Mount Sharp" (also known as "Aeolis Mons"), the approximately 5 km high central uplift of the Gale crater.
Since its landing in August 2012, the rover has "climbed" many hundreds of meters - and it continues to "climb".

However, there is no possibility of climbing the mountain. The rover will remain at the base of Mount Sharp.

The checks are performed regularly (approx. 2x to 3x per year).

All MAHLI images from the wheel check: shorturl.at/quxZ9

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS