[meteorite-list] Curiosity's Sample-Handling Gear Gets a Buzz

[Ron Baalke]

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1346

Sample-Handling Gear Gets a Buzz
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
September 13, 2012

Sol 37 (Sept. 12, 2012) was Curiosity's last day of characterization 
activities for its robotic arm. The sol's activities included a 
vibration test for the device on the arm that processes samples of 
soil, or powdered rock, collected by the scoop or drill. This device, 
the Collection and Handling for In-situ Martian Rock Analysis, or 
CHIMRA, has chambers and labyrinths for sorting, sieving and 
portioning the samples before the arm delivers them to analytical 
instruments.

The Sol 37 characterization activities also included imaging of the 
rover's observation tray by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (raw image at 
http://1.usa.gov/SeDdsY).

In addition, Curiosity's science instruments performed observations 
and measurements, including Mast Camera observations of the Martian 
moon Phobos passing in front of the sun.

Curiosity continues to work in good health. Sol 37, in Mars local 
mean solar time at Gale Crater, ended at 7:54 a.m. Sept. 13, PDT.