Our Curiosity Mars rover recently set a record for the steepest terrain it's ever climbed.
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Its mission is to study whether the Martian environment could have supported microbial life billions of years ago.
One tool for doing that is a camera called the Mars Hand Lens Imager which is located in the turret at the end of the robotic arm.
This camera provides a close-up view of sand grains and rock textures,
similarly to how a geologist uses a handheld magnifying glass for a closer look in the field on Earth.
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The camera also takes all the individual frames that get stitched into the full images you see!
This selfie is a 360-degree panorama comprised of 86 images relayed to Earth.
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Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS⁣
⁣ #NASA #Mars #Space #Science #Planets #Curiosity

“Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
—Martin Luther King,
Jr.‎
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Pause for a moment and take in the vastness and beauty of our home planet captured from the vantage point of space.
On this spaceship we call Earth,
we are all in this together.
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Image credit:
NASA ⁣
⁣ #NASA #Home #Earth #Beautiful #space

To all those looking to the stars,
believe in yourself –
we do.
❤️
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From auto mechanic to geologist -
everyone's story is different.
Our @NASAAstronauts come from all walks of life,
with backgrounds as unique as the individuals themselves.
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Get to know their stories and even apply to #BeAnAstronaut by clicking the link in bio.
Applications close March 31.
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Images Credit:
NASA⁣
⁣ #Space #Science #NASA #Astronaut #BelieveInYourself