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LOS ANGELES (AP)

NASA rover prepares to use laser on a Martian rock

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NASA's Mars rover Curiosity
This NASA graphic shows an artist's rendering of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity.
Courtesy NASA

Ready, set, fire. The NASA Mars rover Curiosity is preparing for its first laser target practice -- zapping a Martian rock 10 feet away on Saturday night.

Since landing in an ancient crater Aug. 5, the car-size Curiosity has been getting a full health checkup. Scientists said Friday they have chosen a generic-looking rock near the landing site to aim the laser at and burn a small hole.

The laser is one of 10 tools Curiosity will use to study whether the environment was favorable for microbial life.

Engineers next week planned to command Curiosity to turn its wheels side-to-side and then take its first short drive that will involve rolling forward 10 feet, turning 90 degrees and then going in reverse.

After the checkups are done, the rover will head 1,300 feet east to a spot where three different types of terrain converge in a drive that will take about a month. By year's end, it will start its trek toward a mountain rising from the crater floor.

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One of the first images taken by NASA's Curiosity
This is one of the first images taken by NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars the evening of Aug. 5 PDT.
Courtesy NASA
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NASA's Mars rover Curiosity
This NASA graphic shows an artist's rendering of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity.
Courtesy NASA
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NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Mars
In this handout image provided by NASA and released on Aug. 8, 2012, are the first two full-resolution images of the Martian surface from the navigation cameras on NASA's Curiosity rover, which are located on the rover's "head" or mast. The rim of Gale Crater can be seen in the distance beyond the pebbly ground. The topography of the rim is very mountainous due to erosion. The ground seen in the middle shows low-relief scarps and plains. The foreground shows two distinct zones of excavation likely carved out by blasts from the rover's descent stage thrusters.
NASA/Getty Images