Amazing photos streaming from Mars Rover 'Curiosity'
Posted at: 08/08/2012 6:23 PM
| Updated at: 08/08/2012 7:30 PM
By: Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News 4
We're getting a glimpse at some of the first color images sent back by the new Mars Rover Curiosity.
The exploratory device landed on the Red Planet just two days ago and a local scientist has a front row seat to the NASA Rover program.
Dr. Larry Crumpler is a New Mexico vulcanologist and is also part of the Mars Rover program.
"The Martian surface is very earth-like in that it's a very bright - a very New Mexican looking place," said Crumpler.
The latest color images show Curiosity to be in a giant crater.
Along with finding clues about Mars' geologic history, Crumpler says this new Rover has the capability of finding the signs of life - if there are any.
"With this mission we have the capability of finding organic materials," said Crumpler.
Curiosity is the most sophisticated laboratory on-wheels sent to the Red Planet - and it's the size of a Mini-Cooper.
Dr. Crumpler says new discoveries on Mars can give us a glimpse into our past.
"It's actually fulfilling a desire to understand the earth," said Crumpler.
Here from Earth, Dr. Crumpler says he's proud to be on the cutting edge of the final frontier.
"Small number of people in the world who have actually walked on Mars as we like to think of it and so being one of those people who have done that - I have particular feelings for what we're looking at with these images. I feel like I'm there too," said Crumpler.
The Mars Rover Curiosity is on a two-year mission and will be able to get to parts of the planet that were previously unreachable.
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