Catalog Page for PIA11439

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PIA11439: Mars Science Laboratory's Descent Stage

This portion of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, called the descent stage, does its main work during the final few minutes before touchdown on Mars.

Mission:	Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Spacecraft:	Curiosity
Product Size:	1214 x 910 pixels (w x h)
Produced By:	JPL
Full-Res TIFF:	PIA11439.tif (3.318 MB)
Full-Res JPEG:	PIA11439.jpg (142.6 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

This portion of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, called the descent stage, does its main work during the final few minutes before touchdown on Mars.

The descent stage will provide rocket-powered deceleration for a phase of the arrival at Mars after the phases using the heat shield and parachute. When it nears the surface, the descent stage will lower the rover on a bridle the rest of the way to the ground.

The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being assembled and tested for launch in 2011.

This image was taken at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., which manages the Mars Science Laboratory Mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.

Image Credit:

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Image Addition Date:

2008-11-19