An artist's drawing shows what the Mars rover Curiosity may look like on Mars
BOB DOUGHTY: The new Mars rover is about the size of a small car. It is about three meters long and weighs over nine hundred kilograms. Curiosity is much heavier than older rovers called Spirit, Opportunity, and Sojourner. The American space agency says it will take Curiosity about ten months to reach Mars. Then it will land, move around on its six large wheels, and begin a number of experiments. Scientists think Curiosity will send information back to Earth for at least two years. They hope it will find signs of life on the “Red Planet.”
The space agency has called Curiosity a “rolling laboratory.” It will carry ten instruments to test the Martian surface. A laser will be used to break up large objects it finds. It will have a drill to cut open and examine the inside of rocks. There are also cameras that can see long distances. Curiosity even has an arm that can touch things and send the information back to Earth.
FAITH LAPIDUS: The new Mars rover will have a nuclear battery that will enable it to travel great distances. It will not use energy from the sun as in the past. Scientists have not decided exactly where on Mars they will land the vehicle. They are looking for a place that might offer the best chance for finding microbes -- extremely small forms of life. However, they think they have found four such places.
Getting to name the Mars rover was exciting for Clara Ma. Going to the launch will also be special. But there is one more prize that Clara won. Space agency officials are letting Clara sign her name on the bottom of the rover. Now, isn’t that a curiosity!
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25