[meteorite-list] Curiosity's Sample-Handling Gear Gets a Buzz

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 17:05:04 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201209140005.q8E055I9023593_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1346

Sample-Handling Gear Gets a Buzz
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
September 13, 2012

Sol 37 (Sept. 12, 2012) was Curiosity's last day of characterization
activities for its robotic arm. The sol's activities included a
vibration test for the device on the arm that processes samples of
soil, or powdered rock, collected by the scoop or drill. This device,
the Collection and Handling for In-situ Martian Rock Analysis, or
CHIMRA, has chambers and labyrinths for sorting, sieving and
portioning the samples before the arm delivers them to analytical
instruments.

The Sol 37 characterization activities also included imaging of the
rover's observation tray by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (raw image at
http://1.usa.gov/SeDdsY).

In addition, Curiosity's science instruments performed observations
and measurements, including Mast Camera observations of the Martian
moon Phobos passing in front of the sun.

Curiosity continues to work in good health. Sol 37, in Mars local
mean solar time at Gale Crater, ended at 7:54 a.m. Sept. 13, PDT.
Received on Thu 13 Sep 2012 08:05:04 PM PDT