As NASA readies to launch a new rover (equipped with demo helicopter) to Mars, the still-working, still-climbing Curiosity rover is on the move.
They hope to go higher on Mount Sharp, but first they have to circumvent some sand that is in the way.
Curiosity Mars Rover's Summer Road Trip Has Begun
"But between the rover and those sulfates lies a vast patch of sand that Curiosity must drive around to avoid getting stuck. Hence the mile-long road trip: Rover planners, who are commanding Curiosity from home rather than their offices at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, expect to reach the area in early fall, although the science team could decide to stop along the way to drill a sample or study any surprises they come across.
Depending on the landscape, Curiosity's top speeds range between 82 and 328 feet (25 and 100 meters) per hour. Some of this summer road trip will be completed using the rover's automated driving abilities, which enable Curiosity to find the safest paths forward on its own. Rover planners allow for this when they lack terrain imagery."
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