Curiosity Rover Nabs TIME ‘Person of the Year’ Nod

One year and 352 million miles later, the Curiosity rover celebrated its birthday Monday with a TIME Person of the Year nomination.

Safely tucked inside a Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, Curiosity left for the Red Planet on Nov. 26, 2011. TIME notes that it was that dramatic Aug. 5 landing -- dubbed the "seven minutes of terror" -- that drew the world's attention, perhaps earning it the prestigious nod.

But the Curiosity rover's accomplishments stretch far beyond its grand entrance.

Just three months into her two-year mission, Curiosity has already returned more than 23,000 raw images, driven 1,696 feet and delivered history-making data about the mysterious Red Planet. And…
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