13°c Overcast
12°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Curiosity shows off laser on Mars
NASA / The Associated Press The Martian rock Curiosity successfully zapped. (CP)
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Curiosity rover has zapped its first Martian rock, aiming its laser for the sake of science.
During the target practice on Sunday, Curiosity fired 30 pulses at a nearby rock over a 10-second window, burning a small hole.
Since landing in Gale Crater two weeks ago, the six-wheel rover has been checking out its instruments including the laser. During its two-year mission, Curiosity is expected to point the laser at various rocks as it drives toward Mount Sharp, a five kilometre-high mountain rising from the crater floor.
Its goal is to determine whether the Martian environment was habitable.
In several days, flight controllers will command Curiosity to move its wheels side-to-side and take its first short drive.
The $2.5-billion mission is the most expensive yet to Mars.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 20, 2012 A12
More World
- Back to Top
- Return to World
More World
(1 of 11 articles for today)
Darkly comic Dutch Cannes Film Festival entry 'Borgman' explores the devil lurking within
9:52 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular World
- Up to 60 people injured when car drives into Va. parade; medical emergency possible cause
- Officials announce 1 winning ticket sold in Fla. on record Powerball jackpot topping $590M
- Canadian Press NewsAlert: Up to 60 injured in Virginia parade crash
- Umbrella-gate stirs outrage
- Official: 1 winning ticket sold in Florida in historic $590.5 million Powerball drawing
- Denmark's Emmelie de Forest wins Eurovision song contest ahead of Azerbaijan, Ukraine
- IRS targeted tea party but ignored most influential political groups
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- US zoo looking into conception mystery after birth of anteater; no male in pen
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Police arrest 12-year-old boy in connection with stabbing death of 8-year-old sister at home
- Celebrities react to Angelina Jolie's revelation of double mastectomy
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- Bodies of woman, 13-year-old son found after NJ standoff; boyfriend killed, 3 kids safe
- Jurors find Jodi Arias eligible for death penalty after murder conviction in boyfriend killing
- Boston Marathon runners who couldn't finish because of blasts can return in 2014
- Co-counsel: OJ Simpson became dependent on main defence attorney in robbery case
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Boston Marathon bombing suspect hospitalized under heavy guard; Boston area breathes easier
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
- As Boston mourns, suspected brothers' radicalism comes into focus
- Cleveland police: Ohio captive suffered 5 miscarriages after being beaten and starved
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
- Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder, says she prefers death penalty
- Boston Marathon bomb suspect is captured, brother killed after all-day drama paralyzes city
- Up to 60 people injured when car drives into Va. parade; medical emergency possible cause
- Officials announce 1 winning ticket sold in Fla. on record Powerball jackpot topping $590M
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Man charged after overnight feast in closed Kentucky supermarket
- Celebrities react to Angelina Jolie's revelation of double mastectomy
- Lawyer: Saudi man travelling with pressure cooker didn't know device used in Boston bombings
- Hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who intervened in California attack arrested in NJ homicide
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- Shady characters: Cookie Monster, Elmo accused of aggressive behaviour in Times Square
- 'Ring of fire' eclipse a delight Down Under
- Highly flammable gas acetylene explodes at W.Va. distributor; 2 workers injured
- 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache charged in UK over alleged rapes in 1967
- Coroner: 5-year-old boy shoots 2-year-old sister in US with rifle he got as a gift
- Hitler ate well, his food taster recalls
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- As killings for ivory grow, many Tanzanians see official hands in elephant slaughter
- Female guards, rapidly growing in numbers, at heart of U.S. prison scandal
- Man testifies it was like he'd been 'murdered' the night wife cut off penis
- Boston Marathon bomb suspect is captured, brother killed after all-day drama paralyzes city
- Boston Marathon bombing suspect hospitalized under heavy guard; Boston area breathes easier
- Bill to alter rules of succession before Kate gives birth nears completion as Lords approve
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.