This week brought an eventful set of tests for Curiosity’s science instruments. Robotic arm tests are nearly finished in preparation for Curiosity’s first attempt to touch and examine a martian rock. Importantly, two science instruments mounted on the arm (the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)) passed their preparatory tests.

“The spectrum peaks are so narrow, we’re getting excellent resolution, just as good as we saw in tests on Earth under ideal conditions,” said APXS principal investigator Ralf Gellert of the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada.

MAHLI is also aiding evaluation of the arm’s ability to position its tools and instruments. Curiosity moved the arm to predetermined “teach points” on Sept. 11, including points above each of three inlet ports where it will later drop samples of soil and powdered rock into analytical instruments inside the rover.

“Honestly, seeing those images with Curiosity’s wheels in the foreground and Mount Sharp in the background simply makes me cry,” said MAHLI principal investigator Ken Edgett of Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego. “I know we’re just getting started, but it’s already been an incredible journey.”

Next, Curiosity will resume driving toward a mid-term science destination area called Glenelg. Curiosity is five weeks into a 2-year prime mission on Mars. It will use 10 science instruments to assess whether the selected field site inside Gale Crater has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.