The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has completed its first Earth year of operations, revealing a diversity of rock and soil types, including an ancient streambed, unusual igneous rocks, mudstones, mineral veins, and hydrated surface and subsurface materials.  The elemental composition and mineralogy of the first drilled samples suggest conditions that could have been capable of supporting life.  Now that initial operations and testing of the rover capabilities have been completed in the Yellowknife Bay area, the rover has begun its traverse towards the entrance to Mt. Sharp.  As such, it is timely to coordinate results from MSL’s first year of operations into a journal special issue, submitted to Icarus by October 1, 2013.

This special issue is for papers that:

• Include observations and analyses of MSL data related to atmospheric science, geologic and geomorphologic studies, surface properties, radiation environment, and mineralogy and geochemistry of the surface and subsurface materials analyzed by Curiosity
• Incorporate additional orbital data sets of the Curiosity landing site region

Author guidelines for preparation of manuscript can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/505620/authorinstructions

Please contact the editorial office at [email protected] with any questions.