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Curiosity is the most advanced rover ever developed
for the Mars program and carries ten times more
scientific gear than the earlier Mars rovers. It's about
the size of a car, but not quite as fast, with a top speed
of only 1.5 inches per second on flat, hard ground. It
has six-wheel drive combined with a rocker-bogie
suspension system and cameras mounted on a mast
to help the mission's team on Earth select exploration
targets and driving routes.
Built as a mobile science laboratory, Curiosity is
packed with special instruments and cameras for
performing a wide range of climatic and geological
studies. This includes the ability to gather samples of
rocks and soil and analyze them directly in a series
of onboard test chambers. With selected instruments
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being provided by Russia, Canada, and Spain, this
latest mission to Mars has a truly international flavor.
With its sophisticated mobility system and scientific
tools, Curiosity's ultimate destination is layered terrain
on the slopes of Mt. Sharp at the center of Gale Crater.
By exploring these layers, each of which records
a specific time in Mars' history, Curiosity will likely
uncover the secrets of the Red Planet for many years
to come.
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