The then-39-year-old company, which makes biomedical and other analytical instruments, had returned an average of 30% a year.

FORBES: Follow Through

Curiosity will use a drill and scoop, which are located at the end of its robotic arm, to gather soil and powdered samples of rock interiors, then sieve and parcel out these samples into the rover's analytical laboratory instruments.

ENGADGET: NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars

In all, the plutonium-powered, six-wheeled Curiosity carries 10 scientific instruments, including an analytical laboratory, to process mineral and sediment samples.

WSJ: NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars