Rocknest (Mars) Rocknest (Mars) Rocknest is a sand patch on the surface of Aeolis Palus, between Peace Vallis and Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp"), in Gale crater on the planet Mars. The patch was encountered by the Curiosity rover on the way from Bradbury Landing to Glenelg Intrigue on September 28, 2012. The "approximate" site coordinates are: . The sand patch is downhill from a cluster of dark rocks. NASA determined the patch to be the location for the first use of the scoop on the arm of the Mars "Curiosity rover". The ""Rocknest"" patch is about by . On October 7, 2012,
Crewed Mars rover Crewed Mars rover Crewed Mars rovers are vehicles for transporting people on the planet Mars, and have been conceptualized as part of human mission to that planet. Two types of crewed Mars rovers are pressurized and unpressurizedunpressurized designs may have open seating for a crew in Mars space suits, and another style has a pressurized interior for people to work without a space suit. Pressurized rovers have been envisioned for short trips from a Mars base, or they may be equipped to be more of a mobile base or laboratory. They are also called "manned Mars rovers" Crewed Mars rovers