NASA is dumping plans for a pair of high-resolution 3-D zoom cameras being developed by film director James Cameron for the new Mars rover, Curiosity.
Instead, the rover, which is scheduled to launch this summer, will fly with two fixed-length cameras, one telephoto and the other a wide-angle.
"The possibility for a zoom-camera upgrade was very much worth pursuing, but time became too short for the levels of testing that would be needed," NASA said in a statement.
Cameron, who had hoped to parlay the technology used to create the film "Avatar" into a real space expedition, took the news in his stride.
"While Curiosity won't benefit from the 3D motion imaging that the zooms enable, I'm certain that this technology will play an important role in future missions," Cameron said in a statement.
Image: Director James Cameron, left, lobbied NASA administrator Charlie Bolden, to give the new Mars rover Curiosity 3D eyes. NASA said yes, but only if it could be ready in time. Credit: NASA.
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