The Curiosity rover's nuclear-powered laser

NASA's space lab blasted a small boulder on Mars' surface for the first time Sunday using powerful bursts of rock-vaporizing light

An artist's conception of Curiosity rover's ChemCam laser, which allows scientists here on Earth to examine what Mars is made of.
(Image credit: NASA/Jean-Luc Lacour)

"Pew! Pew! Pew!" says Space.com. NASA's Curiosity rover, which actually hasn't moved an inch since it precariously touched down on Mars two weeks ago, fired its nuclear-powered laser for the first time Sunday. The instrument is one of 10 onboard that rely exclusively on the rover's plutonium power source, and allows scientists back on Earth to a get a better glimpse of what substances make up the Red Planet. A brief breakdown of the $2.5 billion rover's niftiest little gadget:

What is the laser, exactly?

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