Curiosity Drills, Takes Rock Sample on Mars

Mars rover Curiosity has drilled into a Martian rock, and taken a sample for analysis, the AP reported.

On Friday, the robot, using its seven-foot robot arm, created a 2.5 inch deep drill hole, and took a pulverized, aspirin-sized sample of rock. The rock NASA chose to drill showed signs of past water flow. This is after conducting a test drill last week.

Curiosity is waiting to transfer the sample to the laboratory located on the top of the rover, which shows just how carefully NASA is conducting experiments on the red planet. The team working with the rover won't know how much rock powder Curiosity collected until next week.

As data from the rover's exploits was beamed back to Earth, Curiosity's driver, Paolo Bellutta tweeted "the Sol 182 full drill hole was a success! I'm sure it was LOUD and they heard the drilling action for MILES!"