On Saturday, scientists will start moving the arm, which has five robotic joints, into various positions to make sure it wasn't damaged during its journey from Earth, or during its descent and landing on Mars, said Matt Robinson, lead engineer for Curiosity's robotic arm at JPL.

The team will also use the arm to take pictures of the area and the rover itself, including the first images of the machine's underbelly since it left Earth.

Robinson also noted that the team will test various tools that are attached to the end of the arm. The tests will include firing up the drill, the arm's dust removal tool and its hand-held imager.

Joy Crisp, deputy project scientist for Curiosity, said today that the rover has taken measurements of the atmosphere on Mars. The rover used its Sample Analysis at Mars (Sam) instrument to test for the concentration of different gases.

The results of those tests could come as early as next week, Crisp said.