Curiosity
2012-present
The car-sized nuclear-powered rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars since 6 August 2012.
Specs
899 kg; launched 26 Nov 2011; landed by 'sky crane' (a rocket-powered descent stage); nuclear battery (MMRTG); 30+ km driven.
Why it matters
It landed by firing a rocket crane over the crater rim - an engineering marvel broadcast live - and has been sending real rock chemistry from another planet for over a decade.