FILE - In this 2011 artist‘s rendering provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover examines a rock on Mars with a set of tools at the end of its arm, which extends about 2 meters (7 feet). The mobile robot is designed to investigate Mars’ past or present ability to sustain microbial life. NASA is all set to launch the world’s biggest extraterrestrial explorer. The six-wheeled, one-armed Mars rover is due to blast off Saturday morning Nov. 26, 2011 from Cape Canaveral.

First published in the November 29, 2011, 10:02 a.m. edition

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