Watch NASA's Curiosity Rover Struggle to Break Loose From a Rock on Mars
Gizmodo • • general
Key Points:
- NASA’s Curiosity rover encountered an unusual challenge when a rock named Atacama became stuck to its robotic arm while collecting samples on Mars.
- The rock, about 1.5 feet wide and weighing roughly 28.6 pounds, was lifted out of the ground and suspended by the drill’s fixed sleeve, an unprecedented issue for the mission.
- Despite initial attempts to vibrate the drill and reorient the arm to dislodge the rock, Atacama remained firmly attached for several days.
- On May 1, after rotating, vibrating, and spinning the drill, Curiosity successfully freed the rock, which fractured upon hitting the ground.
- This event marked a rare and challenging obstacle for Curiosity during its 13 years of exploring Mars, highlighting the complexities of robotic planetary exploration.
