PIA13162: Critical Step in Next Mars Rover Landing (Artist Concept)
This artist's concept depicts Curiosity, the rover to be launched in 2011 by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, as it is being lowered by the mission's rocket-powered descent stage during a critical moment of the 'sky crane' landing in 2012.
 Mission:  Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) 
 Spacecraft:  Curiosity
 Product Size:  1280 x 720 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  JPL 
 Other  
Information: 		 JPL News Release 2010-171 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA13162.tif (2.768 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA13162.jpg (25.16 kB)  

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Original Caption Released with Image:

animation for PIA13162
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This artist's concept from an animation depicts Curiosity, the rover to be launched in 2011 by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, as it is being lowered by the mission's rocket-powered descent stage during a critical moment of the "sky crane" landing in 2012.

The Mars Science Laboratory mission is in assembly and testing for launch in autumn 2011 and delivering a rover named Curiosity to Mars in summer 2012.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Image Addition Date:
2010-05-26