Nasa rover Curiosity shoots Mars rock with laser
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This image provided Sunday, Aug 19, 2012, by Nasa shows a close-up view of a Martian rock that the Nasa rover Curiosity zapped at using its laser instrument. -- PHOTO: AP
PASADENA, California (AP) - 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 was expected to point the laser at various rocks as it drives toward Mount Sharp, a 5km-high mountain rising from the crater floor.
Its goal is to determine whether the Martian environment was habitable.
