A fascinating piece of space trivia has emerged from NASA's Curiosity rover mission - a 1909 Lincoln penny is currently on Mars as part of the rover's equipment. This penny serves a crucial role as a calibration target for the rover's MAHLI instrument, which captures close-up images of rocks and soil on the Martian surface.
The choice of the 1909 Lincoln penny holds special significance as it was the first year of the Lincoln penny's minting and coincided with the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The penny, along with a stair-step pattern and a cartoon figure named Joe the Martian on the calibration target, aids in three-dimensional calibration for the MAHLI instrument.
The penny has been on Mars since 2012, enduring dust storms, extreme cold, and rough terrain, reflecting the journey of the Curiosity rover. Despite being covered in dust, the penny's legible features have persisted, showcasing its resilience in the harsh Martian environment.
Curiosity's primary mission is to investigate the past habitability of Mars for microbial life. The rover has made significant discoveries related to the history of water in Gale Crater and identified organic material, although its origin remains uncertain. The Lincoln penny, though weathered, continues to play a vital role in aiding Curiosity's ongoing mission.
