Curiosity Mars rover reaches Mount Sharp

The US space agency announced Thursday that the rover has reached the base of Mount Sharp, where it will begin drilling as early as next week at an outcrop of rocks called Pahrump Hills.

Curiosity made a dramatic touchdown on Mars in August 2012 with the goal of exploring the Martian terrain for traces that life may once have existed on the red planet.

"We have finally arrived at the far frontier that we have sought for so long," said John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist at the California Institute of Technology. Mount Sharp, located in ancient Gale Crater, rises nearly 3.5 miles (6 kilometers).

NASA also defended the robotic vehicle's work so far, after a scientific review panel in July criticized the mission for involving too much driving and too little sampling.

On Thursday, Grotzinger promised "we are going to do a lot more drilling" now that the six-wheel Curiosity is at Mount Sharp.

The rover will take a slightly more direct route from the base than initially planned, after four of its six wheels were damaged last year by sharp rocks on the Martian surface.

"This damage accelerated the rate of wear and tear beyond that for which the rover team had planned. In response, the team altered the rover's route to a milder terrain," NASA said in a statement.

hc/mg (AFP, AP)