The Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera will fly on NASA's Mars
Science Laboratory mission, launching in late 2011. This photo
of the camera was taken before MAHLI's November 2010
installation onto the robotic arm of the mission's Mars rover,
Curiosity. MAHLI's main job is to acquire color close-up images
of rocks and surface materials in Curiosity's landing area at a
range of spatial scales, with resolution as high as 14
micrometers per pixel. Also, its focal length can be adjusted to
photograph more distant objects from any positioning of the
rover's long arm. Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego,
supplied MAHLI and three other cameras for the mission. A pocket
knife that is 88.9 millimeters (3.5 inches) long provides scale
for the image. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space
Science Systems Browse Image | Medium Image | Full Res Image
(NASA's Planetary Photojournal)