In the middle of this image, the long robotic arm rises straight up toward the ceiling of the lab where it is being tested.  The arm is white, and is flexible at several gray round 'joints.'  Red wires dangle and are strung along various parts of the arm.  At the end of the arm is a complicated set of instruments.  In the background, a yellow crane for lifting equipment up to 2 tons (4,000 pounds) can slide along the ceiling to place heavy equipment anywhere in the room.  A metal garage-like door and computer stations lie behind the area where the arm is extended.

February 11, 2010

In this picture, the robotic arm for the Mars Science Laboratory undergoes testing in a laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The arm and tools will reach out and test martian rocks and soil. This arm is identical to the flight hardware that will actually be attached to Curiosity.

Credits

NASA/JPL-Caltech

ENLARGE

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