Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Wheel on Mars

NASA ^ | August 07, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: A wheel attached to NASA's Curiosity rover is firmly on the martian surface in this early picture from the Mars Science Laboratory mission, captured after a successful landing on August 5, 2012 at 10:32pm (PDT). Seen at the lower right of a Hazard Avoidance Camera fisheye wide-angle image, the rover's left rear wheel is 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) in diameter. Part of a spring hinge for the camera's dust cover is just visible in the right corner, while at the upper left is part of the rover's RTG power source. Looking into the Sun across the rock stewn surface of Mars, distant hills on the right are the rim of Gale Crater, about 20 kilometers from the compact car-sized rover's current resting place.

[houeto]

Well TOL, if zero is gonna give out ‘free’ pie, then that's the piece I want.

[TheOldLady]

I don’t think he’s going to be forthcoming to people of “our sort.” Conservatives need not apply. ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

A nuclear “battery” using Plutonium 238.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks cripplecreek.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! I’m on dialup and hadn’t read far enough.

[publius911]

Bravo for the NASA scientists and engineers!
Best drama on TV the last few days.

Choice between the Politically Correct Olympics or Mars updates?
No contest.

[houeto]

Dang, I forgot. What are we? Bitter Clingers? Yea, that's it.

Guess I'll just shut up now and plan to go to the gas station in the morning.

Zero's sort needs the tax money... :-{

[TheOldLady]

*Snort* [giggles]

I’m bitterly clinging to as much of my money as I can, except for my donations to Conservative candidates and FR, of course.