DAWN.COM Logo

Curiosity's first test drive

Dawn.com Published August 24, 2012
The rover mission is set to explore for at least 687 Earth days (1 Martian year) over a range of 5 by 20 km. NASA anticipates that the rover will function for at least the limit the parts were tested for, which is four years.
The rover mission is set to explore for at least 687 Earth days (1 Martian year) over a range of 5 by 20 km. NASA anticipates that the rover will function for at least the limit the parts were tested for, which is four years.
This image released by NASA shows tracks (Upper-R) made by Curiosity's tires during its first test drive as seen by Navcam: Left A (NAV_LEFT_A) on board NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 16, August 22, 2012.
This image released by NASA shows tracks (Upper-R) made by Curiosity's tires during its first test drive as seen by Navcam: Left A (NAV_LEFT_A) on board NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 16, August 22, 2012.
Curiosity's tires during its first test drive as seen by Navcam. A little more than two weeks after its arrival on Mars, the $2.5 billion rover, which landed on Mars on August 6, has performed a battery of tests and appears ready to embark on its two-year mission to explore the Red Planet in the hunt for signs of life.
Curiosity's tires during its first test drive as seen by Navcam. A little more than two weeks after its arrival on Mars, the $2.5 billion rover, which landed on Mars on August 6, has performed a battery of tests and appears ready to embark on its two-year mission to explore the Red Planet in the hunt for signs of life.
The overall objectives include investigating Mars' habitability, studying its climate and geology, and collecting data for a manned mission to Mars.
The overall objectives include investigating Mars' habitability, studying its climate and geology, and collecting data for a manned mission to Mars.
The rover carries a variety of scientific instruments designed by an international team.
The rover carries a variety of scientific instruments designed by an international team.
Curiosity is about twice as long and five times as heavy as the Spirit and Opportunity Mars exploration rover payloads of earlier U.S. Mars missions, and carries over ten times the mass of scientific instruments.
Curiosity is about twice as long and five times as heavy as the Spirit and Opportunity Mars exploration rover payloads of earlier U.S. Mars missions, and carries over ten times the mass of scientific instruments.

A little more than two weeks after its arrival on Mars, the $2.5 billion rover, which landed on Mars on August 6, has performed a battery of tests and appears ready to embark on its two-year mission to explore the Red Planet in the hunt for signs of life. – Photos by AFP

Read more

On DawnNews
Dawn News English

Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.

Latest Stories

dawn images site

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Must Read

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

Zahid Hussain
One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...