Friday, October 19, 2012

First Sample Placed on Curiosity's Observation Tray



The robotic arm on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity delivered a sample of Martian soil to the rover's observation tray for the first time during the mission's 70th Martian day, or sol (Oct. 16, 2012). This image taken later that same sol by the rover's left Mast Camera shows the sample on the tray. The tray is 3 inches (7.8 centimeters) in diameter. 

The sample came from the third scoopful of material collected at the "Rocknest" patch of windblown dust and sand. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

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