SKIRMISHER

NASA’s next Mars rover, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), will be packed with so much scientific gadgetry (like that fancy laser) it’s going to be running not on old-fashioned solar panels, but on nuclear power.

…It’ll have a laser on board capable of evaporating rock samples from over 40 feet away, three cameras, an alpha-particle x-ray spectrometer, and of course wheels and an engine to get around. Basically, it’s a badass piece of space tech. It should head to Mars in 2009, giving us all sorts of fun data on the red planet.

Most importantly, of course, is for it to be able to say, “All your base are belong to us,” using the voice talent of your favorite celebrity Scientologist.

Stumble it!