{credit}NASA/JPL-Caltech{/credit}

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has made tracks, literally. The $2.5 billion probe, which researchers hope will answer questions about whether Mars could have supported life, sent back this picture showing its first movement from the Red Planet yesterday. After taking 16 minutes to perform what NASA calls “combined forward, turn and reverse segments” the laser-armed rover ended up 6 metres from where it landed. You can see a video simulation of its test drive here. The rover’s first proper drive in a few days will see it head for a spot some 400 metres east.

“We have a fully functioning mobility system with lots of amazing exploration ahead,” says Matt Heverly, NASA’s head driver for Curiosity.

Still possessed by Curiosity? Check out Nature’s special page on the vehicle and the video below.