NASA scientists took on Wednesday the 900-kg Mars rover for a short spin on the surface of the Red Planet.
“1st drive complete! This is how I roll: forward 3 meters, 90º turn, then back,” a message on Curiosity’s official Twitter page said.
The message is accompanied by an image of the rover leaving visible treads on the rugged Martian terrain.
The size of a small car, the rover is equipped with six wheels, four of which can pivot.
The test drive is part of a series of checks on Curiosity’s performance being conducted after it landed on Mars on August 6 beginning a two-year mission to assess whether the distant planet has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.
Before the Mars rover embarks on a 7-km (4.3-mile) journey to its primary target - the foot of Mount Sharp on the floor of Gale Crater - NASA scientists plan to send it out on a shorter trek to a spot about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from its landing site.
