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Life in the Universe

Life in Our Solar System

What is the latest mission to enter the search for life on Mars?

The Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity, is a rover that has been operating since its August 2012 landing in Gale Crater, a promising location to search for evidence of life as we know it. Curiosity has an impressive complement of scientific instruments that can detect and analyze the environment, water, organic matter, and evidence of present or fossilized life on Mars. Over the next few years, it will make a detailed investigation to see if life could—or did—exist on the surface of Mars.