Science

NASA's Mars lander takes selfie from above with robotic arm

11 of December 2018

This composite image made available by NASA on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 shows the InSight lander on the surface of Mars. The InSight lander used the camera on its long robotic arm to snap a series of pictures assembled into a selfie. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP),This composite image made available by NASA on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 shows the InSight lander on the surface of Mars. The InSight lander used the camera on its long robotic arm to snap a series of pictures assembled into a selfie. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new Mars lander has taken a selfie from above, using a camera on its long robotic arm.

The InSight lander snapped a series of pictures that NASA turned into a stunning mosaic, released Tuesday.

InSight landed on Mars on Nov. 26. In the two weeks since, scientists are thrilled to find the area in front of the spacecraft pretty much free of rocks, hills and holes. That should make it a safe place for InSight’s two geology experiments, which will be moved to the ground in the coming weeks.

Lead scientist Bruce Banerdt of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory says the red sandy expanse might seem “pretty plain” — if it weren’t on Mars. He notes, “We’re glad to see that.”