Curiosity takes a look around
The Curiosity rover had sent more remarkable images from Mars’ surface, including the first 360-degree view of its surroundings, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, which operates Curiosity, has said.
The images from Curiosity’s just-activated navigation cameras, or Navcams, after the mast has been lifted, include the rover’s first self-portrait, looking down at its deck from above. Another Navcam image set, in lower-resolution thumbnails, is the first 360-degree view of Curiosity’s new home in Gale Crater.
Also, two higher-resolution Navcams have provided the most detailed depiction to date of Mars surface adjacent to the rover.
“These Navcam images indicate that our powered descent stage did more than give us a great ride, it gave our science team an amazing freebie,” said John Grotzinger, project scientist for the mission from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
“The thrust from the rockets actually dug a one-and-a-half-foot-long trench in the surface. It appears we can see Martian bedrock on the bottom. Its depth below the surface is valuable data we can use going forward,” Mr. Grotzinger added.
Jennifer Trosper, JPL project systems manager, said the rover has deployed its seven—foot mast, which holds cameras and science and communications instruments. She said the rover has established full communications with Earth and has more power output than expected.
