Posted: Sat, Jul 24, 2010, 9:34 AM ET (1334 GMT)
The next NASA rover to be launched to Mars took its first moves on Friday in a clean room on Earth. The Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity, moved about one meter back and forth during tests at JPL. The rover, the largest ever built for a Mars mission, is scheduled for launch in 2011, two years later than planned because of difficulties building the large, complex spacecraft. Powered by an RTG, the rover is designed to operate on the planet for several years.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  NASA/JPL press release