Curiosity sends first 3D images from Mars
August 8th, 2012 - 9:55 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 8 (IANS) The Curiosity rover Wednesday sent back the first 3D images of the martian surface as mission controllers began testing out its camera systems.
The rover also sent back the first “clear” pictures of its new home in the Gale crater after a dust cover was successfully jettisoned from one of its main cameras, the Daily Mail reported.
NASA also Wednesday released new images of the surface of the red planet showing the rover and the discarded landing casing and parachute on the red planet’s surface.
It is the first of dozens of images set to be released over the coming days as NASA begins testing out the scientific instruments that will let the car sized rover search for the ingredients of life, the daily said.
Curiosity’s journey to Mars spanned eight months and 566 million km. The rover gently touched down Sunday night after executing an elaborate and untested landing routine.
The nuclear-powered, six-wheel Curiosity will spend the next two years chiselling into rocks and scooping up soil at Gale Crater to determine whether the environment ever had the right conditions for microbes to thrive.
- NASA rover lands on Mars to discover if there was life (Lead) - Aug 06, 2012
- NASA to launch new mission to Mars Saturday - Nov 24, 2011
- Nuclear-powered US rover launched to probe Mars' habitability - Nov 26, 2011
- Curiosity makes maiden move on Mars - Aug 23, 2012
- US rover to scout for Mars' habitability - Nov 27, 2011
- Curiosity lands on Mars - Aug 06, 2012
- Mars rover to undergo 'brain transplant' - Aug 11, 2012
- NASA completes `brain transplant' on Curiosity rover - Aug 15, 2012
- Curiosity rover to test wheels, fire rock-shooting laser - Aug 18, 2012
- I'm safely on Mars, says rover tweet - Aug 06, 2012
- NASA picks landing site for next Mars probe - Jul 23, 2011
- Mars rover landing to be broadcast live - Aug 01, 2012
- NASA's Mars rover begins research in space - Dec 14, 2011
- Curiosity wiggles wheels ahead of first drive on Mars - Aug 22, 2012
- NASA's Mars Orbiter completes 5-yr mark - Mar 10, 2011
Tags: 3d images, camera systems, casing, curiosity, daily mail, dozens, dust cover, eight months, gale, journey to mars, martian surface, microbes, mission controllers, nasa, new images, parachute, red planet, rocks, scientific instruments, soil