NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured a rare image of the Curiosity rover mid-drive on Mars, marking possibly the first time the rover has been photographed in motion from orbit. The HiRISE camera aboard the orbiter showed Curiosity as a small dark speck, leaving a 1,050-foot track from its journey from Gediz Vallis towards a region containing potential boxwork formations. Curiosity's mission, ongoing since 2012, aims to determine if Mars ever supported life by exploring Gale Crater, analyzing rocks and soil. The image showcases Curiosity's progress towards a new research site, where it's expected to arrive within a month, continuing its decade-long exploration of the Red Planet.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.