Curiosity Snaps 'Arm's Length' Self Portrait

astroengine writes "Using its robotic arm-mounted MAHLI camera, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has snapped, quite possibly, the most iconic image to come from the mission so far. By stitching together 55 high-resolution photos, the rover has snapped an 'arm's length' self portrait, capturing its location in the geologically interesting area known as 'Rocknest,' including its recent scoop marks in the Martian soil and the base of Mt. Sharp." Note to NASA: Please sell this image in the form of a fundraising poster.

Comments

Where is the arm?

[Janek Kozicki]

Where is the arm that holds the camera?

Re:Where is the arm?

[ColdWetDog]

This thing is going to get photoshopped to hell and back again.

Too many possibilities to ignore.

Re:Where is the arm?

[thegarbz]

Look again. Follow that structure straight down the middle of the image to the bottom visible wheel, see how it casts a shadow? Now follow up towards the 10 O'clock position and suddenly there's a bit of that structure with a shadow and yet nothing above it? That's the support for the camera.

Re:Where is the arm?

[mikael]

I'd imagine you have several possible problems:

1. The protective casing breaks off. No different from laptops - what are the first parts to break? The small fiddly plastic bits like hinge covers, plastic connectors.

2. If an electrical circuit breaks or has a short circuit, how do you know where exactly if it is concealed by tubes and covers?

3. The extra casing would add more weight to the robot.

Normally, things like satellites get covered in layers of insulation, gold foil and shielding, but that is due to radiation and extreme temperature change.

Re:That's strange

[Kjella]

And some more exposed circuitry.