Two new NASA photos show damage to one of the Curiosity Mars rover’s wheels. What you see here is the MAHLI view of the right-middle (RM) wheel that is still apparently holding up, despite the gaping hole.
For those wondering, Curiosity’s six wheels are made from solid blocks of aluminum to save weight and were designed for mobility on loose sand, rocks perched on sand, as well as flat bedrock. The design was thoroughly tested under simulated conditions in the Mars Yard outdoor test facility at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
- Feed a passion for science and technology – Kids can learn more about the challenges of space exploration with this LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover...
- Conduct a test flight – This advanced building kit for kids ages 10 and up includes a buildable toy version of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which...
- AR brings the mission to life – The accompanying augmented reality app experience lets kids dive into the details of the rover and its mission
We are planning contact science with APXS and MAHLI on ‘Burst Rock,’ which is a target that has an interesting texture and has bright-toned clasts and a gray coating. It is part of the Gediz Vallis Ridge channel deposits and will help out understanding of the channel,” said Ashley Stroupe, Mission Operations Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
[Source]
