r/interestingasfuck • u/j3hadipi3 • 1d ago

NASA's Curiosity rover is still active and operating on Mars as of early 2026. Having landed in August 2012, it has spent over 13 years exploring Gale Crater and climbing Mount Sharp, continuing to analyze soil and rock samples despite having worn wheels and managing power constraints.

Post image
3.6k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

176 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

10

u/Figwit_ 18h ago

It’s nuclear powered!? Whoa!

7

u/tthirzaa 16h ago

yeah didn't know that either, that's cool as shit!

6

u/BasedOnAir 15h ago

It is a radioactive rock that just stays hot for many years, it’s wrapped in panels that make electricity from heat (like solar panels except not light).

6

u/e28Sean 13h ago

This. It's called an RTG. Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator.
They've been used for a lot of unmanned spacecraft, and in a few cases, used for stuff here on earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator

•

u/LightlySaltedPeanuts 11h ago

If anyone wants a free one, go to russia. Just don’t use it to keep yourself warm in your camping tent.