Curiosity Mars rover hits the road (BBC)
By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, BBC News
Nasa's Curiosity Mars rover has finally begun the long drive to its primary mission destination - Mount Sharp.
For the past seven months, it has been investigating a site just east of its August 2012 touchdown point, drilling rocks and analysing their composition.
But scientists have now decided it is time for Curiosity to get rolling.
On Friday, engineers commanded the vehicle to make an 18m drive. On Monday it travelled 40m. It will however take many months to reach Mount Sharp.
The rover has to steer clear of a long bank of sand dunes that represent a potential trap. The intention also is to get to a specific site where satellites have indicated there are layers of sediment that were most likely laid down in water.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23230867
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