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NASA’s Curiosity rover has gained 1 kilometer in elevation since leaving the floor of Gale Crater. It reached the milestone on Aug. 26, 2026, while ascending Mount Sharp—not by climbing the mountain’s full 5-kilometer height. A panorama taken earlier in August looks back down the slope toward the crater floor.
What does Curiosity’s 1-kilometer climb mean?
The figure is Curiosity’s cumulative elevation gain relative to Gale Crater’s floor. NASA reported the milestone on Aug. 26, 2026, describing it as the highest point in the rover’s 14-year mission so far. It is not a claim that Curiosity has climbed all of Mount Sharp.
Mount Sharp rises about 3 miles (5 kilometers) within Gale Crater. Curiosity has been climbing the mountain since 2014. NASA’s Aug. 26, 2026 update provides the milestone and mission context.
What does the panorama show?
The image looks downhill from a broad valley on Mount Sharp nicknamed “Valle Grande.” It reveals Curiosity’s tracks running away across the terrain, with Gale Crater’s floor and northern rim visible in the distance through a dusty summer atmosphere.
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NASA assembled the panorama from 323 images taken by Curiosity’s Mast Camera (Mastcam) on Aug. 1 and 2, 2026—mission sols 4,972 and 4,973. NASA adjusted the color to approximate how the scene’s lighting would appear to human eyes on Earth.
When was the image taken compared with the milestone?
The panorama predates the elevation milestone: Curiosity captured it on Aug. 1–2 and reached 1 kilometer of cumulative elevation gain on Aug. 26, 2026. The view therefore documents the rover’s route up Mount Sharp shortly before NASA announced the achievement.
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Who built Curiosity and its camera?
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory built Curiosity and leads the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Malin Space Science Systems built and operates Mastcam. Readers can explore the rover’s adventures in the Pahrump Hills region through JPL’s Experience Curiosity WebGL interactive.
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