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NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover has performed another "first" in its ongoing mission on the "Red Planet." The six-wheeled robotic explorer collected its first scoop of material from the surface of Mars.
NASA officials say Curiosity on Sunday detected a bright object on the ground. The object might be a part of the six-wheeled rover, but experts won’t sample or scoop anymore until they figure out what it is. This video shows the sandy substance collected shifting in the robot’s scoop, as Curiosity vibrates what it has collected.
NASA says the scoop was vibrated to discard any overfill, and allow scientists on Earth to view some of the characteristics of the material which was collected.
NASA's Mars Curiosity lifts a scoop full of sand and dust on the rover's first use
of the scoop on its robotic arm. In the foreground, near the bottom of the image,
a bright object is visible on the ground. This image was taken from the right
Mastcam during the mission's 61st day on Mars, Oct. 7, 2012. NASA is not sure
what the object is but believes it may be part of the rover.
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
中国公共新闻摘编：GAN JADE |
