Mars Rover's 'Twin' Dominates Mojave Desert

May 14, 2012 --

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory "Curiosity" is currently en route to the Red Planet, set for an August 6 touch down. The car-sized nuclear powered rover will do unprecedented science inside the fascinating Gale Crater, a location where millions of years of geological history may be explored, potentially revealing ancient biology and preparing us for a manned foray to Mars in the not-so-distant future. But last week, at Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert, a terrestrial "twin" rover was put through its paces by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Here are some of the scenes from the terrestrial testing that will ultimately help NASA scientists and engineers understand how the rover will roll over the Martian landscape.

PHOTOS: When Discovery News Met Mars Rover 'Curiosity'

If you were a (hypothetical) microbe on Mars, this would be your view after Curiosity lands in a little over three months time. The six 50 centimeter (20 inch) diameter wheels will support the rover's 900 kg (2,000 lb) mass. However, the vehicle JPL scientists tested in the Mojave Desert -- nicknamed "Scarecrow" -- has a noticeably thinner frame. To simulate how the rover will act in the weak Martian gravity (roughly one-third that of Earth's gravity), engineers designed Scarecrow with a much lighter body.

The thin Scarecrow sits on the sand during the Mojave tests. Last week's tests will provide invaluable data for simulations that will be used to characterize Curiosity's motion when exploring Mars.

Michael Malin, principal investigator for three science cameras on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, is interviewed during Scarecrow's mobility test.

JPL robotics engineer John Leichty sends commands and drives the Scarecrow rover.

Scarecrow surrounded by sensors during mobility tests at Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert.

Scarecrow at the Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert.

PHOTOS: When Discovery News Met Mars Rover 'Curiosity'

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