NASA's Curiosity rover celebrated the 14th anniversary of its Mars landing while continuing its climb up Mount Sharp, conducting APXS, MAHLI, ChemCam, and Mastcam investigations of cross-bedded rock layers over Sols 4975-4981.

Key Details

• Curiosity landed on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012, after launching Nov. 26, 2011; the anniversary moment fell on Sol 4976 at 19:47 LMST, when the rover's arm was deployed for an APXS measurement of target 'Tunas Khasa.'
• The rover navigated a slope with tilts up to 24 degrees before making a 46-foot (14-meter) drive to a location where cross-bedded rock layers are truncated by other layers, evidence of ancient wind and water activity.
• APXS, MAHLI, ChemCam, and Mastcam investigated targets including 'Tunas Khasa,' 'Villarrica,' 'Salar de Gorbea,' 'Uriondo,' and 'Tres Morros' across two planning cycles at the site.
• The RAD instrument continued its uninterrupted radiation monitoring, active since shortly after Curiosity's 2011 launch during its cruise phase to Mars.

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