The mission is part of Esa's Earth Explorer programme - seven spacecraft that will do innovative science in obtaining data on issues of pressing environmental concern.

BBC: Esa's Cryosat ice mission given launch date

In continued collaboration with the social media platform, NASA is now providing a Curiosity Explorer badge to anyone who checks in to a NASA visitor center or a venue categorized as a science museum or planetarium.

ENGADGET: Curiosity spends holidays in Yellowknife Bay, immortalized on special Foursquare badge