‘Wear and Tear’: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Wheels Show Remarkable Resilience After 11 Years on Mars

After over 11 years of exploring the harsh Martian landscape, NASA’s Curiosity Rover is showing visible signs of wear and tear, especially on its wheels. Despite the damage, including large holes and worn-out surfaces, the rover remains fully operational, continuing to send valuable data back to Earth.

Curiosity’s wheels were specifically designed to endure Mars' rough, rocky terrain. However, the constant travel through Mars' rocky surface and low gravity has caused some deterioration. NASA recently released images of the rover’s wheels, highlighting the impact of the challenging Martian conditions. Still, the rover continues its important mission to explore Gale Crater and investigate whether Mars could have supported microbial life in the past.

Here's All About the NASA’s Curiosity Rover

How long has Curiosity been on Mars?  

Curiosity has been on Mars since landing in 2012, and it has been exploring the planet for over 11 years.

What damage has the rover’s wheels sustained? 

The rover's wheels have developed large holes and noticeable wear from traveling across Mars' rugged terrain. Despite the damage, the rover can still move and complete its mission.

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What is Curiosity’s main mission? 

Curiosity’s mission is to explore Mars' surface and determine if the planet ever had the right conditions to support microbial life. The rover has found evidence that Mars once had water, which may have been suitable for life.

Is Curiosity still operational? 

Yes! As of March 2025, Curiosity is still active and continues to send valuable scientific data. It is currently exploring Gediz Vallis channel, where it discovered pure sulfur for the first time on Mars.

How much has the Curiosity rover cost? 

The total cost of the Curiosity mission, adjusted for inflation, is about $3.2 billion.

Despite the wear and tear, Curiosity’s wheels remain a testament to the rover's resilience as it continues its groundbreaking exploration of the Red Planet. NASA engineers continue to monitor its condition to ensure that it can keep exploring and sending back vital information about Mars.