Mars Rover Curiosity Drives for First Time

Curiosity's tracks on Mars. 

NASA completed its first test drive of the Mars rover Curiosity today. The rover accomplished the amazing feat of traveling 15 feet, turning right, and then going in reverse for a short distance.
"We're very excited to have this kind of milestone behind us," says one NASA scientist. "We see that the system is performing very well and we're in a great place to do some science."

Since its arrival on Mars on August 5, the rover had undergone a health checkup, including the laser-blasting of a rock, as well as today's test drive.

Eventually, the rover will be able to trek for hundreds of feet a day. (Thought it was going to be miles? Me too.)

One slight glitch: Researchers say one of the rover's wind sensors was damaged, but a second one is working fine and should be able to handle the entire workload.