Mars Soil Sample Delivered
Betina Pavri, Mars Science Laboratory Payload Downlink Coordinater, gives an update on NASA's Mars Curiosity rover developments and status of the planetary exploration mission. Curiosity continues to scoop at Rocknest, and a soil sample was dropped off to the rover's observation tray for assessment by the science team. The sample was deemed suitable for drop off to the CheMin instrument, which uses X-rays to image the sample and determine what minerals make it up. Numerous bright grains were determined to be components of the Martian soil.