Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Next Big Step: Curiosity

"Testing of the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity. Evaluations during March included use of a space-simulation chamber designed to put the rover through operational sequences in environmental conditions similar to what it will experience on the surface of Mars." CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech
 
The size and capability of this rover are far beyond its smaller ancestors...this is going to be a whole new ballgame.

Landing sites for Curiosity are still under consideration:
 
"The four cross-haired Curiosity landing zones are: Holden crater, Gale crater, Mawrth Vallis and Eberswalde crater. Each area has already undergone intensive scrutiny with NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, currently circling the Red Planet, playing a key role in charting each potential landing scene."

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