Exploration of Mars through history (54 images)

The Opportunity rover's robotic arm, called the "instrument deployment device," at upper left, is seen as it continues to traverse Mars on November 26, 2014. Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy launches NASA's Orion Spacecraft on its "Exploration Flight Test" from Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on December 5, 2014. The unmanned mission will test the systems on NASA's newest spacecraft during a 4 1/2-hour, two-orbit flight. NASA's plans for Orion include flying future manned missions on voyages to deep space exploring asteroids and eventually Mars. Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI

The Curiosity rover uses the camera at the end of its arm in April and May 2014 to take dozens of component images combined into this self-portrait "selfie" where the rover drilled into a sandstone target called "Windjana" on the Martian surface. Most of the component frames of this mosaic view were taken during the 613th Martian day of Curiosity's work on Mars on April 27, 2014. Photo courtesy of NASA

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) spacecraft undergoes final preparations at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on September 27, 2013. MAVEN will be launched by an Atlas 5 rocket scheduled for liftoff on November 18, 2013. The Lockheed Martin spacecraft will orbit the planet Mars for one year after completing a 10-month journey through space. The mission is to explore how the sun has affected Mars' upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI