Curiosity was the Mars rover that landed in Gale Crater in 2012 using a sky-crane system.
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft delivered Curiosity to Mars on August 6, 2012. During the final descent, a powered descent stage hovered above the surface and lowered the rover on cables before flying away and crashing at a safe distance.
The rover’s goal was to determine whether Gale Crater ever had environmental conditions suitable for microbial life. Curiosity carries instruments for analyzing rocks, soil and atmospheric conditions, including the Sample Analysis at Mars laboratory.
Spirit and Opportunity were earlier NASA Mars rovers that used airbag-assisted landings. Perseverance is a later rover that also used a sky-crane-style landing, but it arrived at Jezero Crater in 2021.