Curiosity Rover Leaves Its Mark On Mars

Nasa's robotic rover Curiosity is making its mark on Mars in a way so big that it can be seen from space.

In just one month it has driven 368ft (112m) - and now its tyre tracks have been photographed by a Nasa satellite circling the planet and also from the rover's rear-facing cameras.

The spacecraft landed on August 5 on a mission to look for any signs in Martian soil and rocks that the Red Planet was once capable of supporting life.

Engineers at mission control celebrated when the latest images were beamed back to Earth.

Mission manager Michael Watkins said engineers were thrilled by the idea that "we left tracks on Mars that we can see from orbit" because it gave them a visible sense of accomplishment.

Other rovers have left tracks on Mars, but not as deep or wide as Curiosity's, Mr Watkins said.

Curiosity will be at a standstill for the next few days as engineers check out its crucial robotic arm.

At the end of that arm is a so-called "Swiss Army knife" of scientific instruments designed to test rocks and the chemicals in the soil.

After the arm and its tools are given clean bills of health, the rover will continue on a trek of more than a week to its first destination, a point called Glenelg, where three types of terrain meet.