Mars rover Curiosity scoops, detects bright object
LOS ANGELES (AP) - NASA officials say the Curiosity rover has made its first scoop of the surface of planet Mars and has detected a bright object on the ground.
Officials said in a news release Monday that they suspect the object might be a part of the six-wheeled rover, but they won't sample or scoop anymore until they figure out what it is.
The Curiosity has already beamed back pictures of bedrock that suggest a fast-moving stream once flowed on the planet.
The rover landed Aug. 5 and is on a two-year, $2.5 billion mission to study whether microbial life could have existed on Mars in the past.
Today's Mars is a frozen desert, but previous geological studies suggest it was once warmer and wetter.
Officials said in a news release Monday that they suspect the object might be a part of the six-wheeled rover, but they won't sample or scoop anymore until they figure out what it is.
The Curiosity has already beamed back pictures of bedrock that suggest a fast-moving stream once flowed on the planet.
The rover landed Aug. 5 and is on a two-year, $2.5 billion mission to study whether microbial life could have existed on Mars in the past.
Today's Mars is a frozen desert, but previous geological studies suggest it was once warmer and wetter.
Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More like a fleck of aluminum off the rover.
Up on looking further looks to be the Housing of the unit, it is probably parked with wheels turned or some weird thing.
Did part of the ceiling in the studio this is being filled in fall down?
Something about a certain ethnic group roaming around the desert for 4 billion years looking for a dropped quarter comes to mind.
 @Festivus I was thinking of certain nationalities roaming around various countries looking for terrorists. But instead having to settle for killing the locals..
It could be anything from an ancient building to perhaps a vehicle of some kind. maybe one of the rovers lost a part. what ever the case is there had better be some honesty that comes forth.
Hmmmm. Fossil?
Great. Not only are we litterbugs on Earth, but now we're leaving our trash on other planets. LOL
All in the name of space exploration. ;P
 @Agent Sydney Bristow If it is from the rover, what does it say about it's longevity if it is falling apart already?
 @randomdude Exactly. When it landed a wind sensor was damaged and now Curiosity is possibly finding bits of itself on the Martian landscape?
I'm betting AAA is gearing up for that call NASA is about to make, however NASA needs to have someone standing next to Curiosity with the AAA membership card.
@Agent Sydney Bristow @randomdude Could be some cover parts too, who knows ..That is the problem with doing these things, results can get contaminated from debris.