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The limb of Mars in space is illuminated by the Sun.

THE
MARS
REPORT

Your source for everything on or about the Red Planet, continuing six decades of unparalleled exploration and discoveries.

TODAY

5

Active NASA Missions

60

Years of Mars Exploration

In This Edition:

Sampling Mars, an explosive spring, a robotic road trip (with many stops for souvenirs), and more.

Word Count: 380 Read Time: 3 minutes

Welcome to The Mars Report from NASA. We bring you mission updates, spacecraft news, science findings, unique Mars imagery — and a vision for the humanity-defining possibilities that NASA’s presence on Mars will unlock.

Planning the First Launch Ever From Another Planet

NASA is on track to return scientifically selected samples from Mars, announcing plans to proceed toward confirmation.

Learn More About the Work Ahead

A rover appears to be looking up at a launching rocket as it lifts off into the skies of Mars.

Keep Track of a Busy Planet

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Nine spacecraft explore Mars right now. NASA operates five of them — two surface rovers and three orbiters — and you can track their progress at any time. They talk to each other, and help each other talk to us — relaying their messages and data streams to Earth. Find out how that works:

Springtime weather

Ice Avalanches with a Chance of Explosive Geysers

Martian new year brings dramatic changes — exploding jets of gas, windblown dunes, and more. Scientists track it all from afar, with spacecraft like NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).

Watch ‘What Happens in Martian Spring?’

up the dusty trail

Crater Climber

As of January 2025, Perseverance has rolled 20.35 miles (32.76 kilometers) to collect 26 samples of rock, dirt, and dust (as well as one air sample!). Finally cresting the top of Jezero Crater’s rim after 3½ months, and ascending 1,640 vertical feet (500 vertical meters), the rover's road ahead will be somewhat easier-going, but even more scientifically intriguing — a region of Mars unlike anywhere it has investigated before.

The Road Ahead With Perseverance

Tracks shown in this image indicate the slipperiness of the terrain Perseverance has encountered during its climb up the rim of Jezero Crater. The image was taken by one of rover’s navigation cameras on Oct. 11.

One of the navigation cameras aboard NASA's Perseverance captured this image of the tracks made by the rover during its climb up the rim of Jezero Crater on Oct. 11, 2024. The tracks, seen disappearing into the distance, have churned up the regolith (broken rock and sand) on the surface, indicating high slip. The edges of the tracks are not straight or smooth, which indicates cross-track sliding during the drive. On less slippery terrain, the tracks have well-defined lines from the rover wheels.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Meet the Sample: ‘Silver Mountain’

Perseverance rumbled out of Jezero Crater to explore the uncharted rim, discovering a fresh vantage point — and a very unusual rock. Meet the rover’s 26th Martian sample, “Silver Mountain.”

Examine the Mars Sample Collection

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image of the area in front of it using its onboard Front Right Hazard Avoidance Camera A. This image was acquired on Jan. 28, 2025 (Sol 1401) at the local mean solar time of 16:13:30.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Another Record: Going the Distance

Despite being grounded with a broken rotor, the plucky helicopter Ingenuity managed one more distance record — 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) for its last communication with the Perseverance rover on Nov. 26, 2024. That's the farthest communication between two vehicles on the surface of Mars.

Learn More About Ingenuity, Aviation's Tiny Trailblazer

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter is seen here in a close-up taken by Mastcam-Z, a pair of zoomable cameras aboard the Perseverance rover.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Featured Image

NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured this single image of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system, on March 11, 2024. Besides providing an unprecedented view of the volcano, the image helps scientists study different layers of material in the atmosphere, including clouds and dust.

NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured this single image of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system, on March 11, 2024. Besides providing an unprecedented view of the volcano, the image helps scientists study different layers of material in the atmosphere, including clouds and dust.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

This mesmerizing view of the Martian atmosphere and Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, were featured in a recent “Celebrity Jeopardy” question.

Mission Posters

Collect them all.

A stylistic view of a spacecraft in space is superimposed over the number 10. The poster says "MAVEN: Celebrating 10 years in Orbit at Mars"

MAVEN 10th Anniversary at Mars

Celebrate the MAVEN orbiter's first decade exploring Mars' upper atmosphere with this free commemorative poster.

Download ‘A Decade of Deciphering Mars’ Atmospheric Evolution’

A stylistic view of a two rovers is superimposed over the number 20. The poster says "Trailblazers: Spirt and Opportunity 20th Anniversary.""

Spirit & Opportunity 20th Anniversary

Celebrate the the twin Mars Exploration Rovers' 20 years on Mars with this free commemorative poster.

Download ‘Trailblazers’

A stylistic view of a Mars rovers is superimposed over the number 20. The poster says "Curiosity: 0th Anniversary.""

Curiosity 10th Anniversary

Celebrate the Mars Curiosity rover's long and winding road trip on Mars with this free commemorative poster.

Download ‘Stay Curious’

Rover Mission Updates

What are they doing up there? Get the latest details, direct from mission team members.

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23. A rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls,” which has features that may bear on the question of whether the Red Planet was long ago home to microscopic life, is to the left of the rover near the center of the image.

Perseverance Mission Updates

Stories from the edge of Mars' Jezero Crater.

Read the Latest from Perseverance

A rover sits on the hilly, orange Martian surface beneath a flat grey sky, surrounded by chunks of rock.

Curiosity Mission Updates

Reports from the vicinity of Gale Crater.

Read the Latest from Curiosity

Catching Up With The Mars Report

Browse previous editions.

3 min read

Mars scientists have recently marked a new year on the Red Planet, a milestone that occurs every 687 days. Because…

1 min read

See why Curiosity’s location in Gediz Vallis channel makes it difficult to send direct commands — and how the team…

1 min read

As NASA’s Perseverance rover prepares to ascend to the rim of Jezero Crater, its team is investigating a rock unlike…

4 min read

The Sun’s activity will be at its peak in 2024, providing a rare opportunity to study how solar storms and…

3 min read

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter pushed aerodynamic limits during the final months of its mission, setting new records for speed, distance,…

3 min read

NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter captured the first-ever views of Mars that showcase the curving horizon and layers of atmosphere, similar…

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