NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover sends a selfie home from Mars
NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover has sent back a dusty cool selfie. NASA released the scene earlier this week. A thin layer of dust is visible on Curiosity, the result of a storm that enveloped Mars this summer. The Curiosity rover, which has a nuclear-powered battery that runs day and night, has been studying Martian soil at Gale Crater. It, however, is expected to remain largely unaffected by the dust. ALSO READ | Mysterious Planet Nine exists at the edge of our solar system: NASA The darkish sky indicates dust still clogging the atmosphere. Earlier, when the panorama was shot by Curiosity's mast camera the rover had just drilled for a new rock sample. NASA's older rover Opportunity, however, relies on solar power and has been silent since June. ALSO READ | Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency to launch love satellites
Flight controllers hope as the Martian sky continues to clear, Opportunity will get back in contact. But after almost 15 years exploring the red planet, Opportunity may not have the strength or ability for a comeback. The storm was first detected on May 30, and the US space agency’s 15-year-old rover was last heard from on June 10, when it went into sleep mode as dust blocked out the Sun and darkness enveloped the Red Planet.
For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from Science
Maternally blessed at the age of 45 years after being childless for 16 years
ISRO congratulates NASA and SpaceX for their "historic" manned mission
Four Indian cosmonauts resume training in Russia for Gaganyaan mission
17 pc decline in global carbon emissions due to COVID-19 lockdown: Study
Good News: NASA develops high-pressure ventilator to fight COVID-19