Four decades of innovation have dramatically shaped our perceptions of Mars - from the first grainy images to 360-degree panoramas in color. TIME's photo editors roundup the awe-inspiring images from the most outstanding expeditions, including the Mars Curiosity rover.
The exploration of Mars has spanned hundreds of years, starting with the invention of the telescope in the 1600s. It's difficult to comprehend what it takes to launch something into space, let alone sending a probe on a 154-million mile trek to capture information and images of another planet. From the first images of the surface of the red planet in the 1960s to the images from the Mars Curiosity rover, see highlights from the most successful missions that have shaped our understanding of the planet and its environment. Here, Valles Marineris and the south pole have a hazy appearance due to a dust storm three weeks before this photo was taken.
Four decades of innovation have dramatically shaped our perceptions of Mars – from the first grainy images to 360-degree panoramas in color. TIME’s photo editors roundup the awe-inspiring images from the most outstanding expeditions, including the Mars Curiosity rover.
COVER STORY: What the Curiosity Rover Can Teach us about Mars — and Earth
MORE PHOTOS: An Inside Look at the Mars Curiosity Rover
Window on Infinity: From Saturn to Mars to Deep Space to Home
These are 11 of the Oldest Things in the World
Window on Infinity: Winter Pictures from Icy Space
Breathaking Panoramas and Mosaics From Opportunity’s Decade on Mars
Space Photos: 45-Year-Old Footprints, and More
Window on Infinity: A New Year’s Photo Album From Space
