Mars Science Laboratory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:20, 6 August 2012

Revision as of 09:21, 6 August 2012

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MSL launched on an [[Atlas_V|Atlas V]] rocket from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] on November 26, 2011.<ref>[http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/spacecraft/cruiseconfig/ MSL cruise configuration]</ref> On January 11, 2012, the spacecraft successfully refined its trajectory with a three-hour series of thruster-engine firings, advancing the rover's landing time by about 14 hours.

[[Curiosity rover|Curiosity]] successfully landed in the [[Gale Crater]] at 05:14:39 UTC on August 6, 2012, and transmitted [[Hazcam]] images confirming orientation.<ref name="SF1012012-07-06">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflight101.com/msl-mission-updates-3.html |title=MSL Mission Updates |newspaper=Spaceflight101.com |date=6 August 2012cn}}</ref> Due to the Mars-Earth distance at the time of landing and the radio signals [[speed of light|limited speed]], at the time the landing was registered on earth it had happened already 14 minutes before.<ref name="SF1012012-07-06" />{{cn}}

== Goals and objectives ==