February 10,2014. Mars. Unbelievably freaking cool.
The JPL source page, here.
Running the Dunes on #Mars
February 10, 2014
geek, Pictures Curiosity rover, dune running on Mars, Mars, Mars rovers, NASA 3 Comments
Why does Curiosity have it’s own laser? The truth behind an armed rover.
August 20, 2012
fiction, geek, Humor Area 51, armed rover, Curiosity laser device, Curiosity rover, government cover up, JPL, Mars Rover laser, MSL, NASA, Orson Wells, War of the Worlds 1 Comment
The official story is one of a modest laser device, used to blast tiny holes in rocks, and analyze the resulting dust and debris with a spectrometer. This, according to the briefs, will allow scientists to determine the chemical structure of the rocks. NASA/JPL just released a picture of their first test firing.
From the looks of the images, you’d think “no big deal. A little tiny hole in a rock.” The truth, however, is much more sinister.
We all know the government never tells you the complete story about these things. Remember when spy satellites were all the “top-secret” rage, and they “could read the license plate number on your car”? Of course, the capabilities were far more than was admitted. The same thing applies to Curiosity.
A nuclear reactor? To power a golf cart and a laser pointer? Not bloody likely…
JimmieJoe / KC6YRU 