The Idaho National Laboratory played an integral role in the development of the car-sized Mars rover, named Curiosity, which blasted off last Saturday from Florida.  Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson congratulated the dedicated employees who developed, built and tested the nuclear battery that will power Curiosity.

Congressman Mike Simpson said, “Our whole state can be proud of the work done at the INL.  This battery will power the rover that we hope will answer the big question once and for all – can Mars support life?”

Curiosity is the largest extraterrestrial rover in the world, and will arrive on Mars next August after journeying 354 million miles.

This is not the first time the expertise of the INL has been sought in powering some of NASA’s most ground-breaking missions.  The spacecraft New Horizons, launched in 2006, is currently en-route to fly past and study Pluto, and it is powered by a plutonium battery built at the INL. 

"Every single day the talented men and women of the INL are making great contributions toward the success of missions like this," said Simpson. "I couldn't be more pleased that this work is being done right here in Idaho, nor could I be more grateful for the efforts of those Idahoans who make INL such a tremendous national asset."