Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Mars Science Laboratory turns, rolls, climbs a rock

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Here, it turns in place, then rolls forward a little, with one wheel climbing up a rock. Note that the body doesn't tilt at all as the wheel climbs the rock. Recorded at the opening of the newly remodeled Mars Yard at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on June 19, 2007, the "scarecrow" model of Mars Science Laboratory (so named because it "has no brain)" is put through its paces. It was demonstrated to have no difficulty climbing meter-sized boulders, but to avoid risk the actual rover will not be driven over rocks taller than its wheels while on Mars.