NASA’s Curiosity rover has made an intriguing discovery on Mars – a rock that bears a striking resemblance to the iconic delta-shaped Starfleet emblem from the popular sci-fi series, Star Trek. The long-running Curiosity, which has been exploring the Red Planet since 2012, captured an image of the Mars rock, sparking excitement among Star Trek fans.

Amateur astronomer Stuart Atkinson was the first to spot the Star Trek symbol and humorously remarked, “I bet the Star Trek fans on the @MarsCuriosity team smiled like Cheshire Cats when they saw this new image appear on their screens.” This lighthearted observation drew a playful response from another user, who quipped, “This must be their head office in Mars.”

While it’s purely coincidental and highly unlikely that a Starfleet landing party frequented Curiosity’s roving grounds, the discovery has ignited enthusiasm among fans of the popular sci-fi franchise.

Curiosity’s current mission involves scaling Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons) to analyze the layers embedded within it, providing insights into the historical presence of water on Mars. According to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory officials, the distinct layers of Mount Sharp represent different eras of Martian history, offering valuable clues about the planet’s evolving landscape over time.

In September 2023, NASA officials highlighted that the rover had reached a sulphate-rich zone, potentially marking the highest elevation layer it will ever explore. The mission’s blog revealed that the rover captured the image of the Starfleet symbol while preparing for a scientific examination of a dark-toned bedrock, aiming to study its composition and texture using various instruments.

Following the success of the Curiosity mission at the Gale Crater, NASA launched the Perseverance rover to the Jezero Crater on Mars in 2020. The Perseverance mission is focused on seeking evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet, furthering the quest for scientific exploration and discovery beyond Earth.