Which NASA Mars rover landed in 2012 and is still operational?

The NASA Mars rover that landed in 2012 and is still operational is Curiosity. It touched down inside Gale crater on August 6, 2012, as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission.

Curiosity is a car-sized rover designed to investigate whether ancient Mars ever had environmental conditions suitable for microbial life. It studies rocks, soil, atmospheric conditions, and the geological history of Mount Sharp, the central mountain rising from Gale crater.

Its landing used NASA's innovative sky-crane system, which lowered the rover on cables before the descent stage flew away. Curiosity's original mission was planned to last about two Earth years, but the rover continued operating far beyond that target.

The main mix-up is Perseverance, which also remains active on Mars but landed in 2021, not 2012. Spirit and Opportunity landed in 2004; both eventually ceased operating. Curiosity is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator rather than solar panels.