Opening and Closing SAM . photonado

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Opening and Closing SAM

This set of images from NASA's Curiosity rover shows the inlet covers for the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument opening and closing, as the rover continues to check out its instruments in the first phase after landing. These images were taken by the Navigation camera on the 36th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's operations on Mars (Sept. 11, 2012). The rover's mast is casting a shadow over the deck.

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image released by NASA on 2012-09-12 as catalog id PIA16164