NASA's Curiosity rover continues to explore the surface of Mars, having set a new altitude record for its mission. On August 26, 2026, on the 4996th sol (Martian day) of the rover's operations, it reached the 1-kilometer mark above its landing point in Gale Crater. Nine days later, on September 5, 2026, on the 5006th sol of the mission, Curiosity captured a panoramic image looking back over the distance it had traveled. The image shows the floor of Gale Crater, with its rim visible on the horizon. This photograph allows for an assessment of the altitude gain the rover has achieved since landing on the Red Planet. Curiosity has been operating on Mars for more than a decade, collecting data about the planet's geology and climate, as well as investigating Mars's potential past habitability. The mission continues to climb the slopes of Mount Sharp, located at the center of Gale Crater, studying layers of sedimentary rock that contain information about the history of Mars's climate change. Reaching the one-kilometer altitude milestone represents a significant milestone for the mission, demonstrating the technical reliability of the rover and its ability to traverse the challenging Martian terrain over an extended period.