Curiosity Rover Drills Into Mars Rock, Collects Sample - A Space First

[n2doc]

NASA's Curiosity rover has drilled into a Martian rock and collected samples, marking the first time any robot has ever performed this complicated maneuver on the surface of another planet.

The 1-ton Curiosity rover used its arm-mounted drill to bore a hole 0.63 inches (1.6 centimeters) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) deep in a section of sedimentary bedrock on Friday (Feb. 8). The activity paves the way for the first-ever analysis of fresh Martian subsurface material and provides the last major checkout of the robot's gear and instruments, researchers said.

"The most advanced planetary robot ever designed now is a fully operating analytical laboratory on Mars," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. "This is the biggest milestone accomplishment for the Curiosity team since the sky-crane landing last August, another proud day for America."

Curiosity will process the sample over the next few days, researchers said. The rover will use some of the material to scour its sample-handling hardware clean of any residues that may remain from Earth before transferring any powder to the analytical instruments on the rover's body.

more
http://www.space.com/19708-mars-rover-curiosity-rock-drill-sample.html

[longship]

1. It found that Mars has a chewy nougat center.

[DreamGypsy]

2. The scientific discipline practiced by the Curiosity Team should be applauded...

...loudly.

Which of us, if the joystick for Curiosity were in our hands, would not be racing over the surface, digging here, scratching there, sniffing and, uh, marking like a pubescent pup. Rollicking and rolling in the excitement of discovery.

Thank you NASA. Thank you Curiosity team and rover.

Paving stones on Mars...who knew??



Thanks for the post, n2d.

[littlemissmartypants]

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[littlemissmartypants]

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