President Obama Leaves His Mark on NASA's New Mars Rover

When the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity took off in late 2011, and flew towards the Red Planet, it carried with it the signature of US President Barack Obama, inscribed on a plaque affixed to the robot's deck. The presidential signature is accompanied by others, from several officials.

The high-rank autograph has been roving on the surface of our neighboring world for about two months, alongside signatures from US Vice President Joe Biden, White House science adviser John Holdren and NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Space reports.

Completing the list of personalities mentioned on the plaque are several officials at NASA, who managed or were otherwise involved in developing the $2.5 billion rover. Curiosity's main mission is to figure out whether its landing location, Gale Crater, was ever able to support microbial life.