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'Bright Object' On Mars Actually Plastic from Curiosity Rover
Space.com ^
 | 09 Oct 2012
Posted on 10/09/2012 3:23:28 PM PDT by posterchild
A small piece of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has apparently fallen off into the Red Planet dirt, scientists announced today (Oct. 9). 
Curiosity team members spotted the odd bright object on Sunday (Oct. 7) while studying photos of the rover's first Martian soil-scooping activity. Curiosity then spent much of Monday photographing the scrap further, allowing researchers to determine that it likely came off the 1-ton rover  though they're still not sure what exactly it is, or if its absence will affect Curiosity's mission appreciably.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: mars; ohsomysteriouso
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    For some reason I keep getting an image in my head of a native martian standing on a hill with a tear traveling down his cheek.
To: posterchild
2
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:24:40 PM PDT
by 
Roccus
 
To: posterchild
3
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:28:04 PM PDT
by 
cripplecreek
(What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
 
To: Roccus
    I am betting an empty Malt liquor can.
 
4
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:29:24 PM PDT
by 
hadaclueonce
(you are paying 12% more for fuel because of Ethanol.  Smile big Corn Lobby,)
 
To: posterchild
5
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:30:37 PM PDT
by 
cripplecreek
(What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
 
To: posterchild
6
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:30:51 PM PDT
by 
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
 
To: posterchild
7
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:31:55 PM PDT
by 
ColdOne
(I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11 0bie don' t eatl my dog!)
 
To: posterchild
    I remember some of the Mars pix from decades ago. One showed a cylindrical object. Of course, it was difficult to know the real size, but it resembled a can covered with thick dust.
I thought it would have hilarious for the rover to turn it over and find ‘Coca Cola’ printed. That would have created a stir at NASA HQ.
lol
 
8
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:32:27 PM PDT
by 
TomGuy
 
To: posterchild
    Don’t let the EPA find out about this!../s
 
9
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:32:44 PM PDT
by 
ColdOne
(I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11 0bie don' t eatl my dog!)
 
To: posterchild
    RECYCLE..they should tie a blue bag to the rover..
 
10
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:32:56 PM PDT
by 
ken5050
(Barack Obama: An empty suit sitting in an empty chair...)
 
To: posterchild
    NASA better be careful or else they'll wake up one morning and find Curiousity up on blocks...
11
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:36:26 PM PDT
by 
Yo-Yo
(Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
 
To: ColdOne
    “Dont let the EPA find out about this!../s”
Don’t kid about this! EPA’s Lisa Jackson thighs are quivering over a new world to rule over!
 
12
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:37:21 PM PDT
by 
hadaclueonce
(you are paying 12% more for fuel because of Ethanol.  Smile big Corn Lobby,)
 
To: posterchild
    1 ton here or 1 ton on Mars?
 
13
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:46:25 PM PDT
by 
Slump Tester
(What if I'm pregnant Teddy?  Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
 
To: Yo-Yo
    “NASA better be careful or else they’ll wake up one morning and find Curiousity up on blocks...”
Detroit, Mars
 
To: Slump Tester
    1 ton here or 1 ton on Mars?
 
Both. The (short) ton is a unit of mass. Perhaps you're thinking of the "short ton-force"? ;)
15
posted on 
10/09/2012 3:55:58 PM PDT
by 
verum ago
(Some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
 
To: KevinDavis
    Thanks posterchild. 

 
16
posted on 
10/09/2012 4:01:03 PM PDT
by 
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
 
To: posterchild
    It was of course the white inside of a casually discarded Mars Bar wrapper.
 
17
posted on 
10/09/2012 4:02:55 PM PDT
by 
katana
(Just my opinions)
 
To: posterchild
    Someone call Queen Sheila Jackson Lee (d) TX. The Rover found the plastic bag the American flag was in before they planted it on Mars!!
18
posted on 
10/09/2012 4:06:28 PM PDT
by 
Arrowhead1952
("It's better to vote for a Republican you don't know than wind up with a dim you don't like".)
 
To: posterchild
    The problem is it appears to be partially buried. If it dropped off or floated down it would be mostly on top.
Possibly it dropped off and was covered by the arm digging the surface but I doubt that.
It is at least partially buried. Dig it up and compare it to anything that could have come off the rover.
 
19
posted on 
10/09/2012 4:14:30 PM PDT
by 
prisoner6
(Right Wing Nuts bolt the Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
 
To: prisoner6
    Piece of cladding from an explosive bolt cover ...
 
20
posted on 
10/09/2012 4:41:55 PM PDT
by 
MHGinTN
(Being deceived can be cured.)
 
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