Will Mars Rover Survive Damage To Its Wheel?

That indeed is the case with NASA's Curiosity rover, which has picked up some scratches and dings well it romps through hostile Mars after more than a decade; an engineer might blanch. A dramatic hole in one of its six aluminium wheels pops out in a selfie taken by the rover-a reminder that sometimes even ingeniously crafted machines can fall prey to the Red Planet's unyielding environment.

NASA posted the photo, and while that might raise an eyebrow in any casual space enthusiast, the agency rests easy knowing that Curiosity is designed to take those bumps literally. But the trek across Mars, which began in August 2012, came with a price: it has been amassing vital data, sending back incredible pictures, and even creating the first Martian selfie. As with any voyage of discovery, however, there is wear and tear.

Mars is a cruel environment for rovers. The ground makes for a bluntly unforgiving terrain-from loose sand to jagged rock, across flat bedrock stretches of it-and Curiosity's six wheels have taken the brunt. Constructed from tough aluminium, designed for this mission, the wheels have been showing signs of damage for years. This new hole, however, is one of the more glaring reminders that its adventures are not without consequences.

But NASA's engineers aren't breaking a sweat. They knew this would happen all along and have been keeping a close eye on the rover's wheels since that first crack appeared. In fact, every scratch and puncture is scrupulously photographed, and Curiosity takes selfies with some degree of regularity to help engineers take stock of its state. That allows its team on Earth to course-correct-or rather, adjust speed-to avoid terrain that might further worsen the damage.

Although Curiosity's wheels might be looking worse for wear, NASA is confident that there's plenty of life left in the rover yet. The damage to the wheels isn't new, and the team has developed strategies to mitigate the wear-slowing the rover down when necessary, or steering clear of particularly rough patches of Martian ground.

This newest hole? It is just one more chapter in the ongoing saga of Curiosity's epic exploration of Mars. Undaunted by scars, the rover keeps going on its mission, taking whatever rocky challenges the planet will throw its way. The Curiosity rover is on a quest to learn the secrets of Mars. With its array of scientific instruments, it is searching for signs of life in the past and studying the climate of the planet while learning about its geology.

It's the resilience of Curiosity, time and again. This selfie-which also shows a gaping hole front and center-serves to remind the harsh realities of space exploration but also just how strong and adaptable these machines are. Curiosity may be bruised, but it's still kicking, sending priceless data back to Earth and helping us better understand our cosmic neighbour.

So, while Mars may have taken a chunk out of Curiosity's wheel, that's not going to slow the rover down anytime soon. Scars are badges of honour-testimonies to the extraordinary journey that it has embarked on and the unyielding spirit of exploration that drives it onward.