Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Engineers programmed vibrating sample frequencies to hum the melody. The figure is taken from NASA Science, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a space fact?

Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Curiosity rover sang Happy Birthday to itself on Mars in 2013

Engineers programmed vibrating sample frequencies to hum the melody

To celebrate its first anniversary landing on Mars in August 2013, NASA engineers programmed the Curiosity rover's Sample Analysis at Mars instrument to vibrate at specific sound frequencies. The resulting mechanical vibrations hummed the tune of Happy Birthday across the Martian surface.

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop exterior, Seattle, circa 1920 (MOHAI 11913) — Mitchell, Edward H. · Public domain · source

Where this comes from

NASA Science

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Technology trivia Date Calculator

More facts like this

Mars hosts the largest volcano in the solar systemOlympus Mons on Mars stands about two and a half times taller than Mount Everest Sunsets on Mars appear blue to the human eyeFine Martian dust scatters red light while allowing blue light to pass through Valles Marineris on Mars is the largest canyon system in the solar systemStretching over four thousand kilometres it dwarfs Earth Grand Canyon Mars has two tiny irregularly shaped moons named Phobos and DeimosThe dark cratered satellites resemble captured carbonaceous asteroids Perseverance rover generated breathable oxygen from Martian airThe MOXIE instrument extracted pure oxygen from atmospheric carbon dioxide The Sun outer corona is hundreds of times hotter than its surfaceWhile the solar surface sits at 5,500 degrees C the corona reaches millions

Tags: curiosity, mars, rover

Curiosity rover sang Happy Birthday to itself on Mars in 2013: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Engineers programmed vibrating sample frequencies to hum the melody. The figure is taken from NASA Science, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a space fact?: Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.