Soon we will learn much more about Mars. Curiosity rover is unstoppable

Curiosity rover, will enter the Martian atmosphere with 13,200 MPH and will reach the planet safe, after surviving the "seven minutes of terror" in which it will go through many maneuvers to slow the speed. Any wrong move, like in any such mission, is crucial for the rover, which might arrive whole or in pieces on the planet. MSL's heat shield, is the most powerful ever built to withstand high temperatures. It is used to enter the MSL in the planet's atmosphere, to protect the rover from friction with the atmosphere, because will be achieved temperatures of 1600 degrees.
            This animation of 11 minutes describing the key events of NASA Mars Science Laboratory, which was launched in late 2011 and will land Curiosity rover on Mars in August 6, 2012.


                                          Credit video: JPL NASA

Immediately after the rover will reach the planet, will begin to photograph the surroundings and images will be received after three days on Earth.

                                                              Credit image: NASA / JPL

                                       Locations of cameras on the rover Curiosity Credit NASA / JPL

NASA's official website, dedicated to Curiosity rover mission can be found here: Mars Science Laboratory.
 You can see the live broadcast from NASA headquarters, on NASA TV, which can be found below in the page.
       Experience comes to life if you look in interactive 3D graphics which uses Unity game engine that allows viewing a 3D map of Gale crater on Mars where it will land Curiosity, and a 3D model of the rover, so you can watch the real-time continuous mission, which will make you feel like being there, if you access the Eyes of the Solar System.

                                                  Gale Crater on Mars Credit: NASA / JPL

Satellite images have already shown that the crater was covered with water in the past, and that it contains minerals that can be formed only in water. The rover can move around the objectives digg holes in stones and can bake more then ever before. In other words, the rover will explore an area more susceptible to discover life than any of the six explorers on the planet, which were before it.

Posted in: Astronomy news