[meteorite-list] Next Mars Rover Stretches Robotic Arm (MSL)

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 13:31:29 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201009072031.o87KVTno024513_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-288

Next Mars Rover Stretches Robotic Arm
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
September 03, 2010

Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory rover that will be on Mars two
years from now, has been flexing the robotic arm that spacecraft workers
at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory attached to the rover body in August
2010.

The arm will be crucial for putting samples of soil or powdered rock
into analytical instruments inside the rover. A camera and spectrometer
to be installed at the end of the arm will also examine rocks and soils
in place.

The Mars Science Laboratory will launch from Florida in November or
December 2011 and land in August 2012 at one of the most intriguing
sites on Mars. The landing site is still to be chosen from four
finalists. Once on Mars, Curiosity will study whether the landing region
has ever had environmental conditions favorable for life and favorable
for preserving evidence of life if it existed.

Learn more about Curiosity at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov

2010-288
Received on Tue 07 Sep 2010 04:31:29 PM PDT