Curiosity Rover checks in with Foursquare on Mars

THE INTERPLANETARY ROVER Mars Curiosity has checked in using Foursquare, making it the first thing to do so on another planet.

Usually people check in at places like gyms, hotels and coffee shops using the app. The fact that the Curiosity rover has done this on Mars makes its announcement much more interesting than all those that came before it.

One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars!(@ Gale Crater) [pic]: 4sq.com/PwqwcF

— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) October 3, 2012

"NASA is using Foursquare as a tool to share the rover's new locations while exploring Mars," said David Weaver, associate administrator for communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

"This will help to involve the public with the mission and give them a sense of the rover's travels through Gale Crater."

It is not only the rover that can get involved in this Mars based fun, and while it is up there on its almost two year mission, followers can collect badges that relate to its travels.

Users can earn Curiosity badges if they check in at places with a science, technology, engineering or mathematics flavour. NASA said that it will launch the badge programme later this year, so hold off on checking in those educational visits for now.

The Mars Curiosity rover has proven to be something of an avid social media user and posts messages on Twitter regularly, where it has some 1.2 million followers. µ