NASA provides a color panorama of Gale Crater taken by the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars August 5, 2012. (NASA/Associated Press)-
Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget architect says the state will have enough money to cover the costs of privatizing all but one of the 10 LSU-run hospitals.more>> Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget architect says the state will have enough money to cover the costs of privatizing all but one of the 10 LSU-run hospitals.more>> Within the next several weeks, at the mouth of Bayou St. John, a contractor will dredge a small channel to better connect the bayou with Lake Pontchartrain.
more>> Within the next several weeks, at the mouth of Bayou St. John, a contractor will dredge a small channel to better connect the bayou with Lake Pontchartrain.
more>> A federal judge has refused to let the city of New Orleans out of a potentially expensive agreement to reform its troubled police department.more>> A federal judge has refused to let the city of New Orleans out of a potentially expensive agreement to reform its troubled police department.more>> Harahan police and members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office are going out weekly to hunt for the animals, which pose a danger to the community.
more>> Harahan police and members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office are going out weekly to hunt for the animals, which pose a danger to the community.
more>> For the first time in 65 years, the building which houses Brennan's restaurant will no longer be owned by one of the city's premiere restaurant families. It was sold at auction this afternoon, in spitemore>> For the first time in 65 years, the building which houses Brennan's restaurant will no longer be owned by one of the city's premiere restaurant families. It was sold at auction this afternoon, in spitemore>> "Fourth District detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Kemond Pierre, for shooting a 25-year-old man multiple times Sunday, May 16."more>> "Fourth District detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Kemond Pierre, for shooting a 25-year-old man multiple times Sunday, May 16."more>> The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.more>> The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.more>> The African-American pilots and crews overcame prejudice to get training and to fly in combat during World War II.more>> The African-American pilots and crews overcame prejudice to get training and to fly in combat during World War II.more>> Gulf of Mexico anglers will have a longer red snapper season than they thought.more>> Gulf of Mexico anglers will have a longer red snapper season than they thought.more>> Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named stormsmore>> Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named stormsmore>>
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ready, set, fire.
The NASA Mars rover Curiosity is preparing for its first laser target practice - zapping a Martian rock 10 feet on Saturday.
Since landing in an ancient crater Aug. 5, Curiosity has been getting a full health checkup. Scientists said Friday they have chosen a generic-looking rock near the landing site to aim the laser at and burn a small hole.
The laser is one of 10 tools Curiosity will use to study whether the environment was favorable for microbial life.
In several weeks, the rover will head east to a spot where three different types of terrain intersect. By year's end, it will start its trek toward a mountain rising from the crater floor.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
