For what I think if the first time in the exploration of Mars, a rover has done some work-analysis of rock at night! Curiosity fired up some LED's to examine a rock sample at night and I think that is just so cool!
This shows the advantage of a nuclear powered rover over one powered by solar panels. Curiosity can survive at night and work due to the steady stream of power as opposed to relying on batteries that would be drained without solar energy replenishing them.
Working at night also allows the use of the ultraviolet light that causes minerals to fluoresce and thereby identify them.
This work is prepatory to the first drill session that should occur soon. Read More About It: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-032#1
Sky Guy in VA
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