Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
After Hours

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

By Wally Bahny August 2, 2012, 12:54 PM PDT

Image
1
of 9

_Curiosity_Highlights.jpg
_Curiosity_Highlights.jpg
Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover's features

Curiosity rover's features

ntNASA’s latest Mars rover, Curiosity, is set to touch down on Mars in an awesome landing at approximately 1:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, August 6, 2012. Read my Geekend post for more details about the rover and where to watch the live broadcast.

n

ntThis NASA image of Curiosity highlights some of the main features of the rover, including the cameras and devices on the mast and the arm (labeled MAHLI). As you can see, Curiosity has several redundant systems, including duplicate hazard cameras (“HazCams”) on the front and rear, dual NavCams, and dual MastCams. Curiosity is also six-wheel-drive, so it should be able to avoid getting stuck like its predecessor, Spirit.

n

nt 

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover's mast

Curiosity rover's mast

ntThis is a close-up of Curiosity’s mast.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

_Gale_Crater.jpg
_Gale_Crater.jpg
Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Gale Crater, Mars

Image courtesy of NASA

Gale Crater, Mars

ntCuriosity is set to touch down in Gale Crater. The black ellipse on the map is its target zone. Gale Crater is 96 miles wide and contains a 3-mile high mountain at its center.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Image courtesy of NASA
Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: landing map

Curiosity rover: landing map

ntThis map outlines Curiosity’s travel through the Martian atmosphere until it touches down.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: landing area grid

Curiosity rover: landing area grid

ntNASA scientists spent a long time studying the area in and around the target ellipse for potential hazards, as well as points of interest. To ease the study, the region was broken up into 140 quadrangles. The target ellipse is again displayed on this map.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: landing area topography

Curiosity rover: landing area topography

ntThis map shows a topographical analysis of the landing region, generated from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The Alluvial Fan drawn into the map is an area where debris spreads out down a slope. On Earth, this is usually caused by water. It is hoped that this is the case on Mars as well.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: landing area geology

Curiosity rover: landing area geology

ntThis map highlights some of the geology of the landing region by color-coding areas based on the amount of heat they hold on to. You can also see the Alluvial Fan really well in this image.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: landing graphic

Curiosity rover: landing graphic

ntThis graphic shows the landing plan for the Curiosity rover, highlighting the various stages of the landing process. This is coupled well with the “Seven Minutes of Terror” video.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

Curiosity rover: laser and spectroscopy

Curiosity rover: laser and spectroscopy

ntOne of Curiosity’s tasks is to blast away dust and particulates with a laser so that an onboard spectrograph can analyze the plume for certain minerals. This graphic shows this process and what can be detected by the analysis.

n

ntImage courtesy NASA

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Curiosity Mars rover’s landing plan

    Your email has been sent

Share: Curiosity Mars rover's landing plan
Image of Wally Bahny
By Wally Bahny
  • Account Information

    Contact Wally Bahny

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Wally's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×