Curiosity (rover)

Curiosity is a rover type robot placed on Mars by the National Space and Aeornatics Administration (NASA) of the united States of America. It is powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator; a nuclear battery that effectively converts heat generated from Plutonium-238 dioxide into electricity. Curiosity was named after the winning entry of the naming contest hosted by NASA. The winning entry was by a sixth-grade student from Kansas, twelve-year-old Clara Ma from Sunflower Elementary School in Lenexa, Kansas who wrote;

''Curiosity is an everlasting flame that burns in everyone's mind. It makes me get out of bed in the morning and wonder what surprises life will throw at me that day. Curiosity is such a powerful force. Without it, we wouldn't be who we are today. Curiosity is the passion that drives us through our everyday lives. We have become explorers and scientists with our need to ask questions and to wonder.''

She was given the honor of signing her name in person onto Curiosity while it was being assembled. curiosity has become a most beloved icon of the modern space program since landing on Mars on the sixth of August in the year 2012. It's mission which was to last two years has been extended indefinitely and the machine continues to send images of the Red Planet to Earth.

On February 15, 2019 Curiosity ceased to function. It's last transmission was "My batter is low, and it's getting dark." It's signal was lost during a severe sandstorm.

Mission
Curiosity's mission is to determine if Mars is capable of sustaining Earth based life and the nature of the Martian Climate in preparation for Human habitation.

Bonus Facts

 * Alone on the Martian surface the Curiosity rover would emit the 'Happy Birthday' song every August 5. It did so in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.