'Curiosity' to make unusual landing on Mars

[RobertM]

Like Mike, I thought this was an overly complex mission that had a high chance of failure but I'm glad it all worked out.  What a great achievement !

Robert

[Carole]

Later image:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1289

[Mike]

The MRO also managed to take a snap of the MSL as it descended on its parachute:-

[Kylee]

I set the alarm to witness the landing live. What an amazing achievement as there have been so many failures. When the images appeared too it was just fantastic, can't wait to see more 

[Tony G]

This is all a conspiracy.

I believe these are images that Fay has taken, and copyrighted, and

this is one that Mark took by chance as he was imaging Jupiter. 

Well done NASA.

Tony G

PS...........I know Curiosity Killed the Cat, but do you think it could find a Beagle.

[Whitters]

Curiosity Rover caught in the act of landing

August 6, 2012: An image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance orbiter captured the Curiosity rover still connected to its 51-foot-wide (almost 16 meter) parachute as it descended towards its landing site at Gale Crater.

The image was taken while MRO was 211 miles (340 kilometers) away from the parachuting rover. Curiosity and its rocket-propelled backpack, contained within the conical-shaped back shell, had yet to be deployed. At the time, Curiosity was about two miles (three kilometers) above the Martian surface.

Pictures and more: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/06aug_parachute/

[Mike]

NASA have now released a Timelapse Movie of the descent. View it HERE.

[MarkS]

All the bits and pieces have now been imaged on the Martain surface using the MRO:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19172564

[mickw]

Some high res images - you can play around with choice of camera

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Mars?subselect=Spacecraft%3ACuriosity%3A

[NigelG]

Good morning,
I have been told that they landed within 2km of their intended target!!!!!.
If my maths is correct it's like parking your car in the center of a parking bay
To within 0.009 millimeters or for us oldies
0.00035 inches
Nigel


ps. thinking about it, in London you would be lucky to get within 2 km of your intended parking bay.

[Rick]

First 360-Degree Panorama From NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover

Remarkable image sets from NASA's Curiosity rover and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are continuing to develop the story of Curiosity's landing and first days on Mars.

The images from Curiosity's just-activated navigation cameras, or Navcams, include the rover's first self-portrait, looking down at its deck from above. Another Navcam image set, in lower-resolution thumbnails, is the first 360-degree view of Curiosity's new home in Gale Crater. Also downlinked were two, higher-resolution Navcams providing the most detailed depiction to date of the surface adjacent to the rover.

More: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-235#10

[Tony G]

It doesn't always go NASA's way.

Luckily Curiosity has landed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19205361

Tony G

[Mike]

Very tall hi-res image of the rover and its surrounding area taken from HIRISE.

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/676491main_pia16056-full_full.jpg

Also a full resolution panoramic view (incomplete).

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16051.jpg

[Mike]

Hi definition video of the descent...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZX5GRPnd4U&feature=player_embedded