Curiosity curiosity?

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/wh...ws&NewsID=1372

Object Likely Benign Plastic from Curiosity Rover
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
October 9, 2012

Curiosity's main activity in the 62nd sol of the mission (Oct. 8, 2012)
was to image a small, bright object on the ground using the Remote
Micro-Imager of the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument.

The rover team's assessment is that the bright object is something from
the rover, not Martian material. It appears to be a shred of plastic
material, likely benign, but it has not been definitively identified.

To proceed cautiously, the team is continuing the investigation for
another day before deciding whether to resume processing of the sample
in the scoop. Plans include imaging of surroundings with the Mastcam.

A sample of sand and dust scooped up on Sol 61 remains in the
scoop. Plans to transfer it from the scoop into other chambers of the
sample-processing device were postponed as a precaution during planning
for Sol 62 after the small, bright object was detected in an image from
the Mast Camera (Mastcam).

A Sol 62 raw image from ChemCam, at http://1.usa.gov/R1fZHt, shows the
object in question just to left of center of the image.

Sol 62, in Mars local mean solar time at Gale Crater, will end at 12:23
a.m. Oct. 9, PDT (3:23 a.m., EDT).

Benign plastic.. Erm was there not a big push to make sure there was no
debris hanging around in this rover in case it caused some foul up on the
complicated landing?
What they really mean is somebody left a bit or rubbish behind in the
aeroshell and it fell out when the arm was used.
Maybe its a potato crisp?

grin.

Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

"Brian Gaff" wrote in

Benign plastic.. Erm was there not a big push to make sure there was
no debris hanging around in this rover in case it caused some foul up
on the complicated landing?
What they really mean is somebody left a bit or rubbish behind in the
aeroshell and it fell out when the arm was used.
Maybe its a potato crisp?

grin.

Brian



I was thinking possible debris from the small rockets on the lander
"descent stage" or wrapping debris from the shielding of it.

They are saying wrapping for a component or wire on the landing equipment I
notice. I still think its a chip. Well I cannot see it but a friend
described it as a chip...
Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"John Szalay" john.szalayatatt.net wrote in message
42...
"Brian Gaff" wrote in

Benign plastic.. Erm was there not a big push to make sure there was
no debris hanging around in this rover in case it caused some foul up
on the complicated landing?
What they really mean is somebody left a bit or rubbish behind in the
aeroshell and it fell out when the arm was used.
Maybe its a potato crisp?

grin.

Brian



I was thinking possible debris from the small rockets on the lander
"descent stage" or wrapping debris from the shielding of it.

americans litter everywhere