NASA's Curiosity rover has reached 5,000 days of operation on Mars, ScienceDaily reports. The milestone was announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, according to the publication.
Along with hitting the 5,000-day mark, the rover sent back an image from the Martian surface. ScienceDaily described the view as stunning, though no further details about the image or the terrain it shows were included in the available reporting.
The 5,000-day figure refers to the mission's time on Mars as counted in Martian days, known as sols, rather than Earth days. A sol is slightly longer than a day on Earth.
Curiosity has been exploring the Red Planet as part of NASA's ongoing efforts to study its geology and environment. The rover's long service has made it a central part of the agency's Mars program.
ScienceDaily published its report on the milestone on September 30, 2026. The outlet did not provide additional information about the rover's current location, its recent scientific findings, or the specific features visible in the newly returned image.
What to watch next: whether NASA releases further details about the image and what the rover's team plans for the mission's next phase of exploration.
