NASA said that over the the next few weeks, the rover will continue test the ability of the robotic scooper to collect and process soil samples. After the first few samples are scooped, Curiosity will begin delivering samples to its mineral-identifying chemistry and mineralogy instruments.

It also will use its drill to produce powdered samples from different rocks.

"We're going to take a close look at the particle size distribution in the soil here to be sure it's what we want," said Daniel Limonadi, lead systems engineer for Curiosity's surface sampling and science system. "We are being very careful with this first time using the scoop on Mars."

Curiosity, which weighs nearly 2,000 pounds and carries 17 cameras and 10 scientific instruments, has two computers and four processors.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at , or subscribe to . Her e-mail address is .