NASA's Mars rover checks in on Foursquare (with 20 martians?)

The proud Foursquare announcement.

(Credit: Foursquare screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

I know that some people adore Foursquare.

They have a dominant need to become the mayor of their local laundromat and fishmonger.

However, others feel safer when others don't know where they are. Indeed, last night I saw several attendees of Oracle OpenWorld wandering around a part of San Francisco's North Beach and entering places from which I feel confident they would not have checked-in.

NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, has no fears however.

It is unconcerned about broadcasting its precise whereabouts. It has no worries that by doing so it might be vulnerable to a Mars attack.

For TechCrunch informs me that the rover has become the first ever throbbing thing to check in on Foursquare from Mars.

Foursquare itself made the announcement on its blog, declaring this "the first Foursquare check-in ever on another planet (and the second check-in in space!). Carl Sagan would be proud."

As would, I am sure, William Shatner.

You can keep up with the rover's progress toward becoming Mayor of Mars here.

I wonder what would happen if a future rover check in was accompanied by the words "w/20 others."

President Obama has already told NASA he wants to be told immediately.