Curiosity to begin its search for ‘life’ on Mars

The Mars rover Curiosity was due to wrap up an exhaustive instrument check last night, clearing the way for its first lengthy drive later today to determine whether the Red Planet has ever been hospitable to life.

The nuclear-powered rover landed five weeks ago inside the Gale Crater, near the Martian equator, to conduct Nasa’s first astrobiology mission since the 1970s-era Viking probes.

For its final equipment check, Curiosity will manoeuvre its robot arm so its close-up camera touches the tray where processed rock and soil samples will be analysed.