It sounds like a tabloid headline, but you can bet on this one. This penny was photographed on Mars, no joke. The above is part of a NASA photo taken on Mars, strange but true
The Significance of the Lincoln Penny on Curiosity
NASA’s Curiosity rover, a marvel of engineering, carries a unique calibration target: a 1909 “VDB” Lincoln Cent. This penny serves a vital role in the rover’s scientific mission, particularly for its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), which is designed for close-up photography of Martian rocks and soil.
The Significance of the Lincoln Penny
1. Calibration Reference
The primary purpose of the penny is to provide a familiar object of known size for scale in MAHLI’s images. This aligns with the informal practice among geologists who often include a coin or other small object in their photographs to help interpret the scale of geological features. The penny’s size allows scientists and the public to easily gauge the dimensions of Martian rocks and soil samples captured in the rover’s images.
2. Historical Context
The 1909 Lincoln Cent is historically significant as it was minted to commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The coin features the initials “V.D.B.” of its designer, Victor David Brenner, on its reverse side, making it a notable artifact in both numismatics and space exploration.
3. Public Engagement
By including a common object like a penny, NASA enhances public engagement. The penny is instantly recognizable to Americans, creating a connection between the public and the scientific work being conducted on Mars. This familiarity helps people visualize the scale of the rover’s findings.
4. Durability and Functionality
The penny was affixed to the rover prior to its launch and cannot be moved, ensuring that it remains a consistent reference point throughout Curiosity’s mission. This stability is crucial for accurate calibration of the imaging system, which can focus on targets from as close as 1 inch (2.5 cm) away to the horizon.
Conclusion
The inclusion of the Lincoln penny in Curiosity’s design is a clever blend of practicality and symbolism. It not only serves a scientific purpose by aiding in the calibration of high-resolution imaging but also connects the mission to historical and cultural narratives, enhancing public interest in Mars exploration. As Curiosity continues to analyze the Martian landscape, the penny remains a small yet significant part of its journey, helping scientists understand the planet’s geology and atmospheric conditions, including wind patterns that affect dust distribution across the surface.
5 comments
Why did NASA use such an old penny, over 100 years old?
There was me thinking that it was left there by one of those off planet types that Gary McKinnon found out about.
Wow, they’re so common and worthless that even Mars is covered in them! I mean, otherwise, the odds of a single penny being found on a surface the size of a planet… đ
Well OK, still wondering why they used a _1909_ penny and not just some brand new 21st-century one. The older one is heavier and harder to come by in good condition…
The decision to use a 1909 penny rather than a more recent coin was influenced by the timing of the rover’s launch. Originally planned for 2009, the launch was delayed, and the 1909 penny was chosen because it was readily available and relevant to the mission’s historical context. Ken Edgett, the principal investigator for MAHLI, noted that using a 1911 penny would have required additional explanation, making the 1909 coin a more straightforward choice.