Mars Rover Photo API

API Version: Build status:

Introduction

The Nebulum Mars Rover Photo API (https://rovers.nebulum.one/) provides live images from NASA's Perseverance and Curiosity rovers on Mars. It's designed to make rover photo data accessible to developers, educators, artists, and citizen scientists.

Data is served from https://rovers.nebulum.one.

Quick Start

How to Step Onto Mars

You don't need a NASA badge to explore Mars. Start by querying the API. All API endpoints are available here: https://rovers.nebulum.one/

fetch('https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/rovers/curiosity/photos?earth_date=2026-02-15')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data));

Sample response:

{
  "photos": [
    {
      "id": 91453,
      "sol": 4809,
      "camera": {
        "id": 28,
        "name": "MAHLI",
        "rover_id": 2,
        "full_name": "Mars Hand Lens Imager"
      },
      "img_src": "https://mars.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/msss/04809/mhli/4809MH0008640011703843C00_DXXX.jpg",
      "earth_date": "2026-02-15",
      "rover": {
        "id": 2,
        "name": "Curiosity",
        "landing_date": "2012-08-06",
        "launch_date": null,
        "status": null
      }
    }
    // ...23 more photos
  ]
}

Full response includes 24 photos from multiple cameras (MAHLI, FHAZ, RHAZ, NAV) for this sol.

Photo Attributes

Each rover stores photos organized by:

• sol – Martian rotation or day since landing
• earth_date – Earth calendar date

You can also filter by the camera that took the photo. Each camera has a unique perspective and function.

Cameras

Perseverance Rover

Abbreviation	Camera Name	Type	Color	Purpose
EDL_RUCAM	Rover Up-Look Camera	EDL	✓	Captures parachute deployment during landing
EDL_RDCAM	Rover Down-Look Camera	EDL	✓	Records terrain during descent
EDL_DDCAM	Descent Stage Down-Look Camera	EDL	✓	Documents landing sequence from descent stage
EDL_PUCAM1	Parachute Up-Look Camera A	EDL	✓	Monitors parachute during descent
EDL_PUCAM2	Parachute Up-Look Camera B	EDL	✓	Backup parachute monitoring
NAVCAM_LEFT	Navigation Camera - Left	Navigation	✗	Stereo navigation and path planning (grayscale)
NAVCAM_RIGHT	Navigation Camera - Right	Navigation	✗	Stereo navigation and path planning (grayscale)
MCZ_RIGHT	Mast Camera Zoom - Right	Science	✓	High-resolution color panoramas and geology (zoomable)
MCZ_LEFT	Mast Camera Zoom - Left	Science	✓	High-resolution color panoramas and geology (zoomable)
FRONT_HAZCAM_LEFT_A	Front Hazard Avoidance Camera - Left	Engineering	✗	Detects obstacles in rover's path (grayscale)
FRONT_HAZCAM_RIGHT_A	Front Hazard Avoidance Camera - Right	Engineering	✗	Detects obstacles in rover's path (grayscale)
REAR_HAZCAM_LEFT	Rear Hazard Avoidance Camera - Left	Engineering	✗	Monitors terrain behind rover (grayscale)
REAR_HAZCAM_RIGHT	Rear Hazard Avoidance Camera - Right	Engineering	✗	Monitors terrain behind rover (grayscale)
SKYCAM	MEDA Skycam	Atmospheric	✓	Color imaging of sky, clouds, and atmospheric conditions
SHERLOC_WATSON	SHERLOC WATSON Camera	Science	✓	Extreme close-up color macro imaging of rock textures

Camera Types:

• EDL (Entry, Descent, Landing): One-time use cameras that documented Perseverance's landing sequence
• Science: Primary instruments for geological research and public outreach
• Navigation: Autonomous driving and path planning
• Engineering: Hazard detection and rover safety
• Atmospheric: Weather and sky monitoring

Curiosity Rover

Abbreviation	Camera Name	Type	Color	Purpose
FHAZ	Front Hazard Avoidance Camera	Engineering	✗	Detects obstacles ahead of rover (grayscale)
RHAZ	Rear Hazard Avoidance Camera	Engineering	✗	Monitors terrain behind rover (grayscale)
MAST	Mast Camera	Science	✓	High-resolution color panoramas and geology
CHEMCAM	Chemistry and Camera Complex	Science	✗	Remote imaging of laser target spots (grayscale)
MAHLI	Mars Hand Lens Imager	Science	✓	Close-up color images of rocks and soil
MARDI	Mars Descent Imager	EDL	✓	Color images during landing descent
NAVCAM	Navigation Camera	Navigation	✗	Stereo navigation and path planning (grayscale)

Understanding Color vs Grayscale

Color cameras (marked with ✓) capture full RGB images ideal for:

• Scientific analysis of rock composition and layering
• Public engagement and education
• Atmospheric and lighting studies
• Detailed geological documentation

Grayscale cameras (marked with ✗) are used for:

• Faster image processing and data transmission
• Real-time navigation and hazard detection
• Efficient autonomous driving operations
• Reduced bandwidth requirements

Querying the API

Base URL: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1

Photos Endpoint

By ID

GET /photos/<id>

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/photos/878

By Martian sol:

GET /rovers/<rover>/photos?sol=<sol_number>

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/rovers/Curiosity/photos?sol=3718

By Earth date:

GET /rovers/<rover>/photos?earth_date=yyyy-mm-dd

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/rovers/Perseverance/photos?earth_date=2025-11-06

Filter by camera:

GET /rovers/<rover>/photos?sol=<sol_number>&camera=<camera_abbr>

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/rovers/perseverance/photos?sol=1676&camera=NAVCAM_LEFT

Latest photos:

GET /rovers/<rover>/latest_photos

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/rovers/Perseverance/latest_photos

Mission Manifest Endpoint

Get mission info:

GET /manifests/<rover_name>

Response includes:

• name
• landing_date
• max_sol
• max_date
• total_photos
• photos (array of photo objects per sol)

Example: https://rovers.nebulum.one/api/v1/manifests/curiosity

Repository is maintained by Nebulum

Reach out @ https://nebulum.one/
Find more projects at Nebulum Labs @ https://nebulum.one/labs/