Curiosity went through its paces "flawlessly" on its third full day on the planet, mission manager Michael Watkins said Thursday.

CNN: Mars panorama shows Curiosity's prime target

"We want to be sure that what we are testing is Mars, and not Earth contaminants, " said MSL mission operations manager Michael Watkins.

WSJ: Mars Mission Seeks a Happy Landing

But for mission operations manager Michael Watkins, the most powerful image was among the simplest: the shadow of Curiosity looming over the Martian soil.

WSJ: NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars

One of them, a book entitled The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels, is written by Michael Watkins and published out of Harvard Business Press.

FORBES: CMOs Must Embrace, Manage Changes in Marketing

CNN's Janet DiGiacomo, Ben Brumfield, Michael Martinez and Tom Watkins contributed to this report.

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Shoichet, Cristy Lenz, Chandler Friedman, Michael Martinez, Tom Watkins and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report.

CNN: Details, but no answers, in Oregon mall shooting

CNN's Nick Valencia reported from Brunswick, Georgia, and Michael Martinez and Tom Watkins wrote this story from Atlanta.

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CNN's Janet DiGiacomo, Michael Martinez and Tom Watkins contributed to this report.

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Michael Martinez, Tom Watkins and Jason Evans contributed to this report.

CNN: Mom to teenage son accused in baby shooting: 'I love you'

CNN's Matt Smith, Tom Watkins, Jason Hanna, Deanna Hackney and Michael Martinez contributed to this report.

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