The Mars we know may now appear at first glance to be a barren, dusty landscape. But evidence is abundant to suggest that Earth's planetary neighbor was once a vibrant world with flowing water, active volcanoes and even simple lifeforms.
For that reason, scientists regard the red planet as one of the best places in our solar system for humanity to look for signs that we were not alone. Finding those vital clues would in turn reveal more information about Earth's own place in the cosmos and how our planet came to be.
To that end, a fleet of robotic NASA vehicles have spent decades scouring Mars from above and on the ground. Today, that includes two active car-sized rovers and two active orbiters.
Want a look at what those vehicles have recently
observed on Mars?
As NASA prepares to send the first astronauts to Mars in a matter of years, here are some recent photos of the red planet.
Stunning photos from orbiters, rovers reveal striking Mars features
What is NASA's Perseverance rover?
After launching in 2020, Perseverance made a 200-day, 300-million-mile journey to reach Mars' Jezero Crater in February 2021. Believed to have formed 3.9 billion years ago from a massive impact, the Jezero Crater shows evidence of having once been filled with water.
At the end of 2024, after years in the trenches of Jezero, Perseverance summited the steep Martian crater to begin the next leg of its journey on the rim.
Exploring in and around the crater, Perseverance is searching for signs of ancient microbial life and other remnants of Mars' earliest years billions of years ago. The rover has also studied phenomenon like "dust devils."
And in September 2025, NASA announced that a discovery from the rover – a potential biosignature in a rock sample – was the closest scientists had ever come to finding actual signs of past life on the planet.
What is NASA's Curiosity rover?
East of Perseverance, the Curiosity rover began its voyage to Mars in November 2011, landing in August 2012 in the Gale Crater on the boundary between Mars' cratered southern highlands and its smooth, northern plains. While exploring the crater, believed to have formed 3.7 billion years ago, Curiosity has collected 42 powderized rock samples with the drill on the end of its robotic arm.
As the iconic rover climbs the 3-mile-high Mount Sharp, Curiosity is searching for evidence that Mars was ever hospitable to life. To that end, the rover has been behind a slew of recent discoveries, including observations of never-before-seen organic compounds.
What orbiters are active on Mars?
NASA has two active orbiters circling Mars.
Launched in 2001, Odyssey is the longest-running mission orbiting any planet besides Earth.
Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Odyssey completed its primary science mission from February 2002 through August 2004. Since then, the orbiter has set out to study Martian clouds, fog and frost while mapping the surface to pave the way for crewed landings.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been circling the red planet since 2006, primarily on a mission to find evidence that water ever persisted on the surface of Mars for long periods of time.
NASA's MAVEN spacecraft ended its missions after more than 11 years in orbit after it experienced an unexpected loss of signal Dec. 6, 2025, while passing behind Mars.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NASA's newest Mars images offer striking clues to Earth's neighbor
