NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover did something unexpected on Wednesday, even for a robotic car-sized mobile laboratory located some 150 million miles from Earth: It joined the geolocation social network Foursquare and used the app to “check-in” at its landing site on the Red Planet.
“One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars!” the Curiosity rover remarked on its check-in, referencing Foursquare’s popular digital “Mayor” award given to those users who use the app to “check-in” to the same location the most frequently in a 60-day-period.
One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars!(@ Gale Crater) [pic]: 4sq.com/PwqwcF
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) October 3, 2012
“um, awesome,” remarked Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley on Twitter in response to Curiosity’s “check-in.”
RT @marscuriosity: One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars!(@ Gale Crater) [pic]: 4sq.com/PwqwcF <- um, awesome.
— Dennis Crowley (@dens) October 3, 2012