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"Curiosity took its first test drive around the gravel-strewn Martian terrain on Wednesday, preparation for the ultimate road trip to find out if life could have existed on the red planet. The six-wheel NASA rover did not stray far from the spot where it landed more than two weeks ago. It rolled forward about 15 feet, rotated to a right angle and reversed a short distance, leaving track marks on the ancient soil."

"With its rover named Curiosity, Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Curiosity was designed to assess whether Mars ever had an environment able to support small life forms called microbes. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet's "habitability." "

"NASA's Curiosity rover delivers its first soil sample to its chemistry and mineralogy instrument. "

"Watching this amazing high-definition video of Curiosity's hair-raising landing on Mars will make you clutch at your armrest. Compiled from the probe's MARDI descent camera, it is the best landing video yet and gives you a chance to experience what it's like to ride along with the rover down to the Martian surface. "

"I'm as happy as anyone that the Curiosity rover got to Mars; it's hard not to barrack for all those NASA geeks in their blue polo shirts. But before you get all apple pie about the achievement, there's something you should know: Curiosity runs on plutonium from a Soviet-era nuclear weapons plant."