Space
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Snaps a Selfie on Martian Sand Dune
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Feb 02, 2016 09:31 AM EST
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has taken a self-portrait that reveals a sweeping, dark dune in addition to its car-sized frame. The new selfie combines 57 images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of Curiosity's arm.
During the time of the picture, the rover had been investigating a group of active sand dunes for two months, studying how the wind moves and sorts sand particles on Mars. The site where it's located is part of Bagnold Dune Field, which lines the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp.
When the component images were taken, the rover was on the edge of "Namib Dune." There, it collected the first three scoops of sand from the dune.
During the processing of the third sample, an actuator in the sample-processing device didn't perform as expected. Now, Curiosity's team is looking at reasons for this particular performance.
"The rover responded properly to this unexpected event," said Steve Lee, deputy project manager for Curiosity as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a news release. "It stopped moving the actuator and halted further use of the arm and sampling system."
While diagnostic work is continuing, Curiosity is using its remote-sensing instruments and environmental monitoring instruments. This will help researchers monitor the movement of sand grains on Mars.
Currently, the researchers are evaluating possible sites for the next use of Curiosity's drill in order to collect rock-powder samples of bedrock in the area.
For more information about the Curiosity rover, visit NASA's website.
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First Posted: Feb 02, 2016 09:31 AM EST
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has taken a self-portrait that reveals a sweeping, dark dune in addition to its car-sized frame. The new selfie combines 57 images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of Curiosity's arm.
During the time of the picture, the rover had been investigating a group of active sand dunes for two months, studying how the wind moves and sorts sand particles on Mars. The site where it's located is part of Bagnold Dune Field, which lines the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp.
When the component images were taken, the rover was on the edge of "Namib Dune." There, it collected the first three scoops of sand from the dune.
During the processing of the third sample, an actuator in the sample-processing device didn't perform as expected. Now, Curiosity's team is looking at reasons for this particular performance.
"The rover responded properly to this unexpected event," said Steve Lee, deputy project manager for Curiosity as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a news release. "It stopped moving the actuator and halted further use of the arm and sampling system."
While diagnostic work is continuing, Curiosity is using its remote-sensing instruments and environmental monitoring instruments. This will help researchers monitor the movement of sand grains on Mars.
Currently, the researchers are evaluating possible sites for the next use of Curiosity's drill in order to collect rock-powder samples of bedrock in the area.
For more information about the Curiosity rover, visit NASA's website.
Related Stories
Antarctic Fungi May Survive on Mars: How Likely Life is on the Red Planet
Mars Rover Curiosity Conducts First-Ever Close Study of Alien Sand Dunes
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone