How to Reduce Wear and Tear on Wheel Treads for the Curiosity Rover
![A close up of the Curiosity rover's wheels, showing holes and tears from traversing sharp rocks.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_1/public/2017-07/PIA20334_hires.jpg.webp?itok=-HwlNItK)
The Curiosity rover has been on Mars since 2012, and has contributed much to our understanding of the Martian environment in the past and present. In 2016, NASA performed a routine wheel examination to keep track of the wear and tear of the wheels. Cracks and holes are starting to appear in the gaps between the treads. After 5 years into this mission, it's not a surprise the wheels have started to wear, however, NASA wants to squeeze as much time out of them as possible. In March, they uploaded a new adaptive traction control program to the rover, which will adjust the individual wheel speeds as the rover climbs hills. Powered by a RTG, Curiosity has many years of service left on Mars, and anything to keep it roving will be tried.