Curiosity: NASA's Next Mars Rover
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Scheduled to launch on Nov. 26, Curiosity will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life.
The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in August 2012. Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release their gasses so that a spectrometer can analyze them and send the data back to Earth.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Neutron Generator of Instrument for Detecting Water-Bearing Minerals
A Russian-built, neutron-shooting instrument on the Curiosity rover of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission will check for water-bearing minerals in the ground beneath the rover.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Oblique view of Gale Crater from the Northwest
NASA has selected Gale as the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. The mission's rover will be placed on the ground in a northern portion of Gale crater in August 2012.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/UA
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Backshell in Place
The backshell, a protective cover which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, has been lowered into place over NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, Sept. 23, 2011.
NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
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Backshell in Place
The backshell, a protective cover which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, has been lowered into place over NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, Sept. 23, 2011.
NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
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Mars Science Laboratory Aeroshell with Curiosity Inside
At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, and the spacecraft's descent stage have been enclosed inside the spacecraft's aeroshell, Oct. 1, 2011.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Mars Science Laboratory Rover Closeout
The Mars Science Laboratory mission's rover, Curiosity, is prepared for final integration into the complete NASA spacecraft in this photograph taken inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Final Closeout Actions for Curiosity's Heat Shield
At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the 'back shell powered descent vehicle' configuration, containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, is being rotated for final closeout actions. The flat, circular object in the foreground of the image is the spacecraft's heat shield.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Going Vertical
In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the fairing acoustic protection system lining the inside of the Atlas V payload fairing, for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission is in view, as the fairing is lifted into a vertical position. The FAP protects the payload by dampening the sound created by the rocket during liftoff.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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Raising the Centaur
With a unique view taken from inside Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, an overhead crane lifts the Centaur upper stage for the United Launch Alliance Atlas V. Once in position in the VIF, it will be attached to the Atlas V booster stage, already at the pad.
NASA/Jim Grossmann
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Atlas Goes Vertical
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the first stage of the Atlas V rocket for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission arrives at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41.
NASA/Jim Grossmann
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Atlas V Gets a Boost
Technicians use an overhead crane to guide the final solid rocket motor into position for mating to the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V will carry NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission into space.
NASA/Jim Grossman
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Curiosity Joined by Descent Stage
Preparing for integration to NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, technicians help guide a rocket-powered descent stage over the rover at Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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Mars Science Laboratory Descent Stage
The descent stage of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being lifted during assembly of the spacecraft in this photograph taken inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Rotating Curiosity's Back Shell Powered Descent Vehicle
At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the 'back shell powered descent vehicle' configuration of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory is being rotated for final closeout actions.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Integrating Powered Descent Vehicle with Back Shell of Mars Spacecraft
The 'powered descent vehicle' of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being prepared for final integration into the spacecraft's back shell in this photograph from inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The powered descent vehicle combines the spacecraft's descent stage and the rover Curiosity.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Mars Science Laboratory Cruise Stage
The cruise stage of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being prepared for final stacking of the spacecraft in this photograph from inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
NASA/Glenn Benson
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Tucked in for Flight
Technicians work beneath NASA's Mars Science Laboratory aeroshell, which has been mated to the cruise stage. The mission's Curiosity rover is visible, tucked into the aeroshell.
NASA/Glenn Benson
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Into the Fairing
Sections of an Atlas V rocket payload fairing engulf NASA's Mars Science Laboratory as they close in around it. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life.
NASA/Jim Grossmann
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Putting on the Logo
The Mars Science Laboratory mission logo begins to take shape as technicians install it on the exterior of an Atlas V rocket's payload fairing inside the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Tucked inside the fairing is the MSL spacecraft, including a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity.
NASA/Jim Grossmann
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Ready for Transport
In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare to lift the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas V rocket's payload fairing, and place it on a transporter for the move to Space Launch Complex 41.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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Ready for Transport
The Atlas V rocket's payload fairing containing the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft stands securely atop the transporter that will carry it to Space Launch Complex 41.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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Ready for Transport
Standing atop a payload transporter, the Atlas V rocket payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft rolls out of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning the move to Space Launch Complex 41.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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MSL Reaches the Launch Complex
The predawn light reveals the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft as it is prepared to be lifted into place atop the Atlas V rocket already waiting at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The fairing, which protects the payload during ascent, will be lifted and mated to the Atlas V rocket already in place at the launch pad.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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MSL Reaches the Launch Complex
In the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft has been attached to its Atlas V rocket.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
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