This graphic shows the locations of the cameras on NASA’s Curiosity rover. NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity, loaded with the most-sophisticated instruments ever used to explore another world, touched down on the Red Planet early Monday morning, on a quest for signs of whether the Red Planet has evidence of past and present habitable environments. Nasa/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive608796
While there are American heroes in London right now, there are also American heroes in Pasadena, California. NASA has just successfully landed the rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars Sunday night. The touchdown climaxes an eight year project, with the past eight months spent traveling to Mars. Curiosity launched from Cape Canaveral November 26, 2011 and successfully landed in Gale Crater (it’s on Mars) on August 6th. The most exciting part came during the final seven minutes through the Martian atmosphere. This little guy was all on his own to let the protective heat shield fall away, deploy his parachute, and fire rockets to slow his 13,000 mph speed. 14 minutes after Curiosity’s landing, NASA received it’s first photograph. Surviving those seven minutes of terror should merit a gold medal. The picture was a little grainy due to all of the dust kicked up, but still pretty cool nonetheless. Continue reading →