NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity is on a new mission on the Red Planet and that mission is to become the mayor of Mars.
On Wednesday the rover checked in to Mars’ Gale Crater, using the location-based social network, Foursquare. The cheeky rover left two tips for the Cater is close to becoming the Red Planet’s first, and most likely only, mayor.
“Mars is cold, dry and rocky. Extra moisturizer and study shoes would be a good idea, plus oxygen for those of your who breathe,” the Mars rover advised.
The rover, which has been on Mars since August, included a photo in its check-in to Gale Crater. “One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars!” Curiosity wrote. It included another tip for fellow Foursquare users, “Wish you weighed less? Visit the Red Planet. Because Mars is so much smaller, its gravity makes you weigh only 3/8 what you do on Earth.”
But checking in at Foursquare was not the only thing Curiosity was focused on. Wired reported that Mars rover’s mission manager said scientists are searching for a “good sandbox to play in,” after 1,300 feet of travel.
According to Wired, Curiosity has parked in an area being called “Rocknest” and will use the many instruments it carries to sample and analyze the soil. Curiosity will use its Collection and Handling for Interior Martian Rock Analysis (CHIMRA) to scoop up a “half a baby-aspirin pill” sized sample. It will then tip up and shake quickly to get the sample to the analysis instruments.
The sample pickup will serve several purposes, Wired reported. Curiosity will first use the Mars sand to sandblast its insides and remove an oily film that has built up. It will then bring another sample to be analyzed by scientist back on Earth.
Daniel Limonadi, an engineer working on the Curiosity team, told Wired, “even the most boring sand on Mars is going to be a new result.”