Mars Science Laboratory#Sky crane landing

File:Mars and Elysium - GPN-2000-000919.jpg view of Mars: Gale crater can be seen. Slightly left and south of center, it is a small dark spot with dust trailing southward from it.]]

MSL carried out the most accurate Martian landing of any spacecraft at the time, hitting a target landing ellipse of {{convert|7|by|20|km|mi|abbr=on}}, in the Aeolis Palus region of Gale Crater. MSL landed {{convert|2.4|km|abbr=on}} east and {{convert|400|m|abbr=on}} north of the center of the target.{{cite conference |url=http://issfd.org/ISSFD_2012/ISSFD23_IN1_1.pdf |title=Mars Science Laboratory Navigation Results |conference=23rd International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics. Pasadena, California. October 29 – November 2, 2012. |first1=Tomas J. |last1=Martin-Mur |first2=Gerhard L. |last2=Kruizinga |first3=P. Daniel |last3=Burkhart |first4=Mau C. |last4=Wong |first5=Fernando |last5=Abilleira |year=2012 |page=17 |id=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140819122926/http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/handle/2014/43257 Beacon record]}} This location is near the mountain Aeolis Mons (a.k.a. "Mount Sharp").

The Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort for the robotic exploration of Mars that is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of California Institute of Technology. The total cost of the MSL project was US$2.5 billion.{{cite news |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/msl-readings-could-improve-safety-human-mars-missions |title=MSL Readings Could Improve Safety for Human Mars Missions |work=Space News |first=Dan |last=Leone |date=August 10, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2014}}

Previous successful U.S. Mars rovers include Sojourner from the Mars Pathfinder mission and the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Curiosity is about twice as long and five times as heavy as Spirit and Opportunity, and carries over ten times the mass of scientific instruments.

File:PIA16239 High-Resolution Self-Portrait by Curiosity Rover Arm Camera.jpg sol {{age in sols|2012|8|5|2012|10|31}} (October 31, 2012)]]

{{For|results and findings|Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory}}

The MSL mission has four scientific goals: Determine the landing site's habitability including the role of water, the study of the climate and the geology of Mars. It is also useful preparation for a future human mission to Mars.

To contribute to these goals, MSL has eight main scientific objectives:{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/objectives/ |title=Objectives - Mars Science Laboratory |first=JPL |last=NASA }}

;Biological:

• (1) Determine the nature and inventory of organic carbon compounds
• (2) Investigate the chemical building blocks of life (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur)
• (3) Identify features that may represent the effects of biological processes (biosignatures)

;Geological and geochemical:

• (4) Investigate the chemical, isotopic, and mineralogical composition of the Martian surface and near-surface geological materials
• (5) Interpret the processes that have formed and modified rocks and soils

;Planetary process

• (6) Assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion-year) Martian atmospheric evolution processes
• (7) Determine present state, distribution, and cycling of water and carbon dioxide

;Surface radiation

• (8) Characterize the broad spectrum of surface radiation, including cosmic radiation, solar particle events and secondary neutrons. As part of its exploration, it also measured the radiation exposure in the interior of the spacecraft as it traveled to Mars, and it is continuing radiation measurements as it explores the surface of Mars. This data would be important for a future human mission.

About one year into the surface mission, and having assessed that ancient Mars could have been hospitable to microbial life, the MSL mission objectives evolved to developing predictive models for the preservation process of organic compounds and biomolecules; a branch of paleontology called taphonomy.{{cite journal |title=Habitability, Taphonomy, and the Search for Organic Carbon on Mars |journal=Science |first=John P. |last=Grotzinger |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=386–87 |date=January 24, 2014 |doi=10.1126/science.1249944 |pmid=24458635 |bibcode=2014Sci...343..386G|doi-access=free }}

File:MSL final assembly 2011-7372.jpg

File:MSL-spacecraft-exploded-view.png; 5- [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=0000MD9999000031E1_DXXX&s=0 Heat shield]; 6- Parachute]]

The spacecraft flight system had a mass at launch of {{convert|3893|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, consisting of an Earth-Mars fueled cruise stage ({{convert|539|kg|lb|abbr=on}}), the entry-descent-landing (EDL) system ({{convert|2401|kg|lb|abbr=on}} including {{convert|390|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of landing propellant), and a {{convert|899|kg|lb|abbr=on}} mobile rover with an integrated instrument package.

The MSL spacecraft includes spaceflight-specific instruments, in addition to utilizing one of the rover instruments — Radiation assessment detector (RAD) — during the spaceflight transit to Mars.

• MSL EDL Instrument (MEDLI): The MEDLI project's main objective is to measure aerothermal environments, sub-surface heat shield material response, vehicle orientation, and atmospheric density. The MEDLI instrumentation suite was installed in the heatshield of the MSL entry vehicle. The acquired data will support future Mars missions by providing measured atmospheric data to validate Mars atmosphere models and clarify the lander design margins on future Mars missions. MEDLI instrumentation consists of three main subsystems: MEDLI Integrated Sensor Plugs (MISP), Mars Entry Atmospheric Data System (MEADS) and the Sensor Support Electronics (SSE).

File:Drawing-of-the-Mars-Science Laboratory.png

{{Main|Curiosity (rover)#Specifications}}

Curiosity rover has a mass of {{convert|899|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, can travel up to {{convert|90|m|ft|abbr=on}} per hour on its six-wheeled rocker-bogie system, is powered by a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), and communicates in both X band and UHF bands.

• Computers: The two identical on-board rover computers, called "Rover Compute Element" (RCE), contain radiation-hardened memory to tolerate the extreme radiation from space and to safeguard against power-off cycles. Each computer's memory includes 256 KB of EEPROM, 256 MB of DRAM, and 2 GB of flash memory. This compares to 3 MB of EEPROM, 128 MB of DRAM, and 256 MB of flash memory used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.

:The RCE computers use the RAD750 CPU (a successor to the RAD6000 CPU used in the Mars Exploration Rovers) operating at 200 MHz. The RAD750 CPU is capable of up to 400 MIPS, while the RAD6000 CPU is capable of up to 35 MIPS. Of the two on-board computers, one is configured as backup, and will take over in the event of problems with the main computer.

:The rover has an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that provides 3-axis information on its position, which is used in rover navigation. The rover's computers are constantly self-monitoring to keep the rover operational, such as by regulating the rover's temperature. Activities such as taking pictures, driving, and operating the instruments are performed in a command sequence that is sent from the flight team to the rover.

The rover's computers run VxWorks, a real-time operating system from Wind River Systems. During the trip to Mars, VxWorks ran applications dedicated to the navigation and guidance phase of the mission, and also had a pre-programmed software sequence for handling the complexity of the entry-descent-landing. Once landed, the applications were replaced with software for driving on the surface and performing scientific activities.{{cite news |title=Impressive' Curiosity landing only 1.5 miles off, NASA says |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/us/mars-curiosity/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn |access-date=August 10, 2012}}

:{{See also|Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars rovers}}

File:Goldstone DSN antenna.jpg antenna can receive signals.]]

File:Wheels of a working sibling to Curiosity rover.JPG") is represented by small (dot) and large (dash) holes in three horizontal lines on the wheels. The code on each line is read from right to left.]]

• Communications: Curiosity is equipped with several means of communication, for redundancy. An X band Small Deep Space Transponder for communication directly to Earth via the NASA Deep Space Network{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/communicationwithearth/ |title=Mars Science Laboratory, Communications With Earth |publisher=JPL}} and a UHF Electra-Lite software-defined radio for communicating with Mars orbiters.{{Rp|46}} The X-band system has one radio, with a 15 W power amplifier, and two antennas: a low-gain omnidirectional antenna that can communicate with Earth at very low data rates (15 bit/s at maximum range), regardless of rover orientation, and a high-gain antenna that can communicate at speeds up to 32 kbit/s, but must be aimed. The UHF system has two radios (approximately 9 W transmit power{{Rp|81}}), sharing one omnidirectional antenna. This can communicate with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter (ODY) at speeds up to 2 Mbit/s and 256 kbit/s, respectively, but each orbiter is only able to communicate with Curiosity for about 8 minutes per day. The orbiters have larger antennas and more powerful radios, and can relay data to Earth faster than the rover could do directly. Therefore, most of the data returned by Curiosity (MSL) is via the UHF relay links with MRO and ODY. The data return during the first 10 days was approximately 31 megabytes per day.

:Typically 225 kbit/day of commands are transmitted to the rover directly from Earth, at a data rate of 1–2 kbit/s, during a 15-minute (900 second) transmit window, while the larger volumes of data collected by the rover are returned via satellite relay.{{Rp|46}} The one-way communication delay with Earth varies from 4 to 22 minutes, depending on the planets' relative positions, with 12.5 minutes being the average.{{cite news |url=http://www.universetoday.com/14824/distance-from-earth-to-mars/ |title=Distance from Earth to Mars |first=Fraser |last=Cain |date=August 10, 2012 |work=Universe Today |access-date=August 17, 2012}}

:At landing, telemetry was monitored by the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and ESA's Mars Express. Odyssey is capable of relaying UHF telemetry back to Earth in real time. The relay time varies with the distance between the two planets and took 13:46 minutes at the time of landing.

• Mobility systems: Curiosity is equipped with six wheels in a rocker-bogie suspension, which also served as landing gear for the vehicle, unlike its smaller predecessors.{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/building_curiosity.html |title=Watch NASA's Next Mars Rover Being Built Via Live 'Curiosity Cam' |access-date=August 16, 2012 |date=September 13, 2011 |work=NASA |archive-date=November 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126035758/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/building_curiosity.html |url-status=dead }} The wheels are significantly larger ({{convert|50|cm|in|sp=us}} diameter) than those used on previous rovers. Each wheel has cleats and is independently actuated and geared, providing for climbing in soft sand and scrambling over rocks. The four corner wheels can be independently steered, allowing the vehicle to turn in place as well as execute arcing turns. Each wheel has a pattern that helps it maintain traction and leaves patterned tracks in the sandy surface of Mars. That pattern is used by on-board cameras to judge the distance traveled. The pattern itself is Morse code for "JPL" (•−−− •−−• •−••). Based on the center of mass, the vehicle can withstand a tilt of at least 50 degrees in any direction without overturning, but automatic sensors will limit the rover from exceeding 30-degree tilts.

{{clear right}}

{{Main|Curiosity (rover)#Instruments}}

File:673885main PIA15986-full full.jpg]]

The general analysis strategy begins with high resolution cameras to look for features of interest. If a particular surface is of interest, Curiosity can vaporize a small portion of it with an infrared laser and examine the resulting spectra signature to query the rock's elemental composition. If that signature intrigues, the rover will use its long arm to swing over a microscope and an X-ray spectrometer to take a closer look. If the specimen warrants further analysis, Curiosity can drill into the boulder and deliver a powdered sample to either the SAM or the CheMin analytical laboratories inside the rover.

• Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): This device can irradiate samples with alpha particles and map the spectra of X-rays that are re-emitted for determining the elemental composition of samples.
• CheMin: CheMin is short for 'Chemistry and Mineralogy', and it is an X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analyzer.{{cite web |url=http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/CheMin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320125601/http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/CheMin/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |title=MSL Science Corner – Chemistry & Mineralogy (CheMin) |access-date=August 24, 2012 |first=David Blake |last=NASA Ames Research Center |year=2011}}{{cite web |url=http://earthweb.ess.washington.edu/ess-306/MSL-PIP.pdf |title=Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientists Program – Proposal Information Package. |access-date=August 24, 2012 |author=The MSL Project Science Office |date=December 14, 2010 |work=JPL – NASA |publisher=Washington University}}{{cite journal |title=Field Deployment of A Portable XRD/XRF Iinstrument On Mars Analog Terrain |journal=Advances in X-ray Analysis |author=Sarrazin P. |author2=Blake D. |author3=Feldman S. |author4=Chipera S. |author5=Vaniman D. |author6=Bish D. |volume=48 |url=http://www.icdd.com/resources/axa/vol48/V48_27.pdf |access-date=August 24, 2012 |quote=International Centre for Diffraction Data 2005 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512004452/http://www.icdd.com/resources/axa/vol48/V48_27.pdf |url-status=dead }} It will identify and quantify the minerals present in rocks and soil and thereby assess the involvement of water in their formation, deposition, or alteration. In addition, CheMin data will be useful in the search for potential mineral biosignatures, energy sources for life or indicators for past habitable environments.
• Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM): The SAM instrument suite will analyze organics and gases from both atmospheric and solid samples. This include oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) in the atmosphere of Mars in order to distinguish between their geochemical or biological origin.{{cite web |url=http://ael.gsfc.nasa.gov/marsSAM.shtml |title=Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite |access-date=October 9, 2008 |date=October 2008 |publisher=NASA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222092231/http://ael.gsfc.nasa.gov/marsSAM.shtml |archive-date=February 22, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |title=Making Sense of Mars Methane |access-date=October 8, 2008 |last=Tenenbaum |first=D. |date=June 9, 2008 |work=Astrobiology Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531234217/http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/2765/making-sense-of-mars-methane |archive-date=2012-05-31 |url-status=usurped}}

{{cite journal |last1=Tarsitano |first1=C. G. |last2=Webster |first2=C. R. |year=2007 |title=Multilaser Herriott cell for planetary tunable laser spectrometers |journal=Applied Optics |volume=46 |issue=28 |pages=6923–6935 |bibcode=2007ApOpt..46.6923T |doi=10.1364/AO.46.006923 |pmid=17906720|s2cid=45886335 }}

{{cite journal |last1=Mahaffy |first1=Paul R. |year=2012 |title=The Sample Analysis at Mars Investigation and Instrument Suite |journal=Space Science Reviews |volume=170 |issue=1–4 |pages=401–478 |bibcode=2012SSRv..170..401M |doi=10.1007/s11214-012-9879-z |display-authors=etal|doi-access=free |hdl=2060/20120002542 |hdl-access=free }}

File:PIA17601-Comparisons-RadiationExposure-MarsTrip-20131209.png on the MSL (2011–2013)]]

• Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD): This instrument was the first of ten MSL instruments to be turned on. Both en route and on the planet's surface, it characterized the broad spectrum of radiation encountered in the Martian environment. Turned on after launch, it recorded several radiation spikes caused by the Sun. NASA scientists reported that a possible human mission to Mars may involve a great radiation risk due to energetic particle radiation detected by the RAD while traveling from the Earth to Mars.{{cite journal |last=Kerr |first=Richard |title=Radiation Will Make Astronauts' Trip to Mars Even Riskier |date=May 31, 2013 |journal=Science |volume=340 |number=6136 |page=1031 |doi=10.1126/science.340.6136.1031 |pmid=23723213|bibcode=2013Sci...340.1031K }}{{cite journal |last=Zeitlin|first=C. |title=Measurements of Energetic Particle Radiation in Transit to Mars on the Mars Science Laboratory |journal=Science |date=May 31, 2013 |volume=340 |number=6136 |pages=1080–1084 |doi=10.1126/science.1235989 |pmid=23723233 |display-authors=etal |bibcode=2013Sci...340.1080Z|s2cid=604569 |url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/d4f68022dd4b96755933bccdc586bbeb2e031eb3 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Data Point to Radiation Risk for Travelers to Mars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/31/science/space/data-show-higher-cancer-risk-for-mars-astronauts.html |date=May 30, 2013 |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 31, 2013}}

File:PIA13580 crop.jpg on Curiosity}}]]

• Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN): A pulsed neutron source and detector for measuring hydrogen or ice and water at or near the Martian surface.{{cite journal |doi=10.1089/ast.2007.0157 |title=The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Experiment for NASA's 2009 Mars Science Laboratory |year=2008 |last1=Litvak |first1=M.L. |last2=Mitrofanov |first2=I.G. |last3=Barmakov |first3=Yu.N. |last4=Behar |first4=A. |last5=Bitulev |first5=A. |last6=Bobrovnitsky |first6=Yu. |last7=Bogolubov |first7=E.P. |last8=Boynton |first8=W.V. |last9=Bragin |first9=S.I. |display-authors=8 |journal=Astrobiology |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=605–12 |pmid=18598140 |bibcode=2008AsBio...8..605L}}{{cite web |url=http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/DAN/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320125107/http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/DAN/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |title=MSL Science Corner: Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) |publisher=NASA/JPL |access-date=September 9, 2009}} On August 18, 2012 (sol {{age in sols|2012|8|6|2012|08|18}}) the Russian science instrument, DAN, was turned on,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/curiositys-mars-travel-plans-tentatively-mapped/ |title=Curiosity's Mars travel plans tentatively mapped |website=CBS News |date=August 18, 2012 }} marking the success of a Russian-American collaboration on the surface of Mars and the first working Russian science instrument on the Martian surface since Mars 3 stopped transmitting over forty years ago.{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-049A |title=NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details }} The instrument is designed to detect subsurface water.
• Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS): Meteorological package and an ultraviolet sensor provided by Spain and Finland. It measures humidity, pressure, temperatures, wind speeds, and ultraviolet radiation.{{cite web |publisher=Pierre und Marie Curie University |url=http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/paris2011/abstracts/gomez-elvira_paris2011.pdf |title=Rover Environmental Monitoring Station for MSL mission |work=4th International workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: modelling and observations |date=February 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2012}}
• Cameras: Curiosity has seventeen cameras overall. 12 engineering cameras (Hazcams and Navcams) and five science cameras. MAHLI, MARDI, and MastCam cameras were developed by Malin Space Science Systems and they all share common design components, such as on-board electronic imaging processing boxes, 1600×1200 CCDs, and a RGB Bayer pattern filter.
• MastCam: This system provides multiple spectra and true-color imaging with two cameras.
• Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI): This system consists of a camera mounted to a robotic arm on the rover, used to acquire microscopic images of rock and soil. It has white and ultraviolet LEDs for illumination.
• ChemCam: Designed by Roger Wiens is a system of remote sensing instruments used to erode the Martian surface up to 10 meters away and measure the different components that make up the land.{{Cite book|title=The design and engineering of Curiosity : how the Mars Rover performs its job|last=Emily|first=Lakdawalla|isbn=9783319681467|location=Cham, Switzerland|oclc=1030303276|date = March 27, 2018}} The payload includes the first laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system to be used for planetary science, and Curiosity{{'s}} fifth science camera, the remote micro-imager (RMI). The RMI provides black-and-white images at 1024×1024 resolution in a 0.02 radian (1.1-degree) field of view.{{cite web |url=http://www.msl-chemcam.com/index.php?menu=inc&page_consult=textes&rubrique=64&sousrubrique=224&soussousrubrique=0&titre_url=ChemCam%20-%20How%20does%20ChemCam%20work? |title=ChemCam - ChemCam - How does ChemCam work? }} This is approximately equivalent to a 1500 mm lens on a 35 mm camera.

File:Gravel-covered martian surface.jpg

• Mars Descent Imager (MARDI): During the descent to the Martian surface, MARDI acquired 4 color images per second, at 1600×1200 pixels, with a 0.9-millisecond exposure time, from before heatshield separation at 3.7 km altitude, until a few seconds after touchdown. This provided engineering information about both the motion of the rover during the descent process, and science information about the terrain immediately surrounding the rover. NASA descoped MARDI in 2007, but Malin Space Science Systems contributed it with its own resources.{{cite web |url=http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MARDI/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320130148/http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/MARDI/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-20 |title=MSL Science Corner: Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) |last=[NULL] }} After landing it could take {{convert|1.5|mm|in|abbr=on}} per pixel views of the surface,{{cite web |url=http://www.exploremars.org/msl-picture-of-the-day-t-27-days-instruments-mardi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119035203/http://www.exploremars.org/msl-picture-of-the-day-t-27-days-instruments-mardi |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |title=MSL Picture of the Day: T-27 Days: instruments: MARDI }} the first of these post-landing photos were taken by August 27, 2012 (sol {{age in sols|2012|8|6|2012|08|27}}).{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?s=21&camera=MARDI |title=Raw Images - Mars Science Laboratory |first=JPL |last=NASA }}
• Engineering cameras: There are 12 additional cameras that support mobility:
• Hazard avoidance cameras (Hazcams): The rover has a pair of black and white navigation cameras (Hazcams) located on each of its four corners.{{Cite journal |url=https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/08/curiosity-mars-rover-cameras/ |title=The Photo-Geek's Guide to Curiosity Rover's 17 Cameras |date=August 7, 2012 |first=Adam |last=Mann |journal=Wired Science |access-date=August 15, 2012}} These provide close-up views of potential obstacles about to go under the wheels.
• Navigation cameras (Navcams): The rover uses two pairs of black and white navigation cameras mounted on the mast to support ground navigation. These provide a longer-distance view of the terrain ahead.

File:MSL-Cruise Stage Test.jpg near Pasadena, California]]

The Mars Science Laboratory was recommended by United States National Research Council Decadal Survey committee as the top priority middle-class Mars mission in 2003.{{Cite book|url=https://www.nap.edu/catalog/10432/new-frontiers-in-the-solar-system-an-integrated-exploration-strategy|title=New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy|last=Council|first=National Research|date=2002-07-11|language=en|doi=10.17226/10432|isbn=978-0-309-08495-6}} NASA called for proposals for the rover's scientific instruments in April 2004, and eight proposals were selected on December 14 of that year. Testing and design of components also began in late 2004, including Aerojet's designing of a monopropellant engine with the ability to throttle from 15 to 100 percent thrust with a fixed propellant inlet pressure.

By November 2008 most hardware and software development was complete, and testing continued. At this point, cost overruns were approximately $400 million. In the attempts to meet the launch date, several instruments and a cache for samples were removed and other instruments and cameras were simplified to simplify testing and integration of the rover. The next month, NASA delayed the launch to late 2011 because of inadequate testing time. Eventually the costs for developing the rover reached $2.47 billion, that for a rover that initially had been classified as a medium-cost mission with a maximum budget of $650 million, yet NASA still had to ask for an additional $82 million to meet the planned November launch. As of 2012, the project suffered an 84 percent overrun.{{cite web|url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/gao-slams-jwst-msl-cost-overruns/|title=GAO Slams JWST, MSL Cost Overruns|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-30}}

MSL launched on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011. 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. When MSL was launched, the program's director was Doug McCuistion of NASA's Planetary Science Division.

Curiosity successfully landed in the Gale Crater at 05:17:57.3 UTC on August 6, 2012, and transmitted Hazcam images confirming orientation. Due to the Mars-Earth distance at the time of landing and the limited speed of radio signals, the landing was not registered on Earth for another 14 minutes. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter sent a photograph of Curiosity descending under its parachute, taken by its HiRISE camera, during the landing procedure.

Six senior members of the Curiosity team presented a news conference a few hours after landing, they were: John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator; Charles Elachi, director, JPL; Peter Theisinger, MSL project manager; Richard Cook, MSL deputy project manager; Adam Steltzner, MSL entry, descent and landing (EDL) lead; and John Grotzinger, MSL project scientist.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVzfDZlEwaU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FVzfDZlEwaU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Curiosity Rover Begins Mars Mission |author=NASA Television |publisher=YouTube |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012}}{{cbignore}}

Between March 23 and 29, 2009, the general public ranked nine finalist rover names (Adventure, Amelia, Journey, Perception, Pursuit, Sunrise, Vision, Wonder, and Curiosity)[https://web.archive.org/web/20090326013016/http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/SubmitVoteForm/index.cfm The Finalists] (in alphabetical order). through a public poll on the NASA website. On May 27, 2009, the winning name was announced to be Curiosity. The name had been submitted in an essay contest by Clara Ma, a sixth-grader from Kansas.

{{Blockquote|Curiosity is the passion that drives us through our everyday lives. We have become explorers and scientists with our need to ask questions and to wonder.|author=Clara Ma|source=NASA/JPL Name the Rover contest}}

File:Curiosity Cradled by Gale Crater.jpg rises from the middle of Gale Crater – Green dot marks the Curiosity rover landing site in Aeolis Palus – North is down.]]

Over 60 landing sites were evaluated, and by July 2011 Gale crater was chosen. A primary goal when selecting the landing site was to identify a particular geologic environment, or set of environments, that would support microbial life. Planners looked for a site that could contribute to a wide variety of possible science objectives. They preferred a landing site with both morphologic and mineralogical evidence for past water. Furthermore, a site with spectra indicating multiple hydrated minerals was preferred; clay minerals and sulfate salts would constitute a rich site. Hematite, other iron oxides, sulfate minerals, silicate minerals, silica, and possibly chloride minerals were suggested as possible substrates for fossil preservation. Indeed, all are known to facilitate the preservation of fossil morphologies and molecules on Earth. Difficult terrain was favored for finding evidence of livable conditions, but the rover must be able to safely reach the site and drive within it.

Engineering constraints called for a landing site less than 45° from the Martian equator, and less than 1 km above the reference datum. At the first MSL Landing Site workshop, 33 potential landing sites were identified. By the end of the second workshop in late 2007, the list was reduced to six; in November 2008, project leaders at a third workshop reduced the list to these four landing sites:

A fourth landing site workshop was held in late September 2010, and the fifth and final workshop May 16–18, 2011. On July 22, 2011, it was announced that Gale Crater had been selected as the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory mission.

File:Atlas V 541 into the flight.png

The Atlas V launch vehicle is capable of launching up to {{convert|8290|kg|lb|abbr=on}} to geostationary transfer orbit.{{cite web |url=https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/atlas-v |title=Atlas V |publisher=United Launch Alliance |access-date=May 1, 2018}} The Atlas V was also used to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the New Horizons probe.

The first and second stages, along with the solid rocket motors, were stacked on October 9, 2011, near the launch pad. The fairing containing MSL was transported to the launch pad on November 3, 2011.

MSL was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 on November 26, 2011, at 15:02 UTC via the Atlas V 541 provided by United Launch Alliance.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39642506/the_daily_sentinel/|title=NASA Launches Super-Size Rover to Mars|last1=Dunn|first1=Marcia|newspaper=The Daily Sentinel |agency=Associated Press|date=November 27, 2011|page=5C|via=Newspapers.com}} This two stage rocket includes a {{convert|3.8|m|abbr=on}} Common Core Booster (CCB) powered by one RD-180 engine, four solid rocket boosters (SRB), and one Centaur second stage with a {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}} diameter payload fairing.{{cite web |title=United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket Successfully Launches NASA's Mars Science Lab on Journey to Red Planet |url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/89/ |work=ULA Launch Information |date=November 26, 2011 |publisher=United Launch Alliance |access-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720000149/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/89/ |archive-date=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead }} The NASA Launch Services Program coordinated the launch via the NASA Launch Services (NLS) I Contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2006/release-20060602d.html |title=NASA Announces Mars Science Lab Mission Launch Contract |publisher=NASA |first1=Bruce |last1=Buckingham |first2=Katherine |last2=Trinidad |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=May 1, 2018}}

File:Animation of Mars Science Laboratory trajectory.gif

The cruise stage carried the MSL spacecraft through the void of space and delivered it to Mars. The interplanetary trip covered the distance of 352 million miles in 253 days.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/science/space/nasas-curiosity-rover-gets-moving-on-mars.html?_r=0 |title=After Trip of 352 Million Miles, Cheers for 23 Feet on Mars |access-date=October 18, 2012 |first=Kenneth |last=Chang |date=August 22, 2012 |work=The New York Times}} The cruise stage has its own miniature propulsion system, consisting of eight thrusters using hydrazine fuel in two titanium tanks. It also has its own electric power system, consisting of a solar array and battery for providing continuous power. Upon reaching Mars, the spacecraft stopped spinning and a cable cutter separated the cruise stage from the aeroshell. Then the cruise stage was diverted into a separate trajectory into the atmosphere.{{cite book |chapter=Design and Fabrication of the Cruise Stage Spacecraft for MSL |first=N. |last=Dahya |title=2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference |pages=1–6 |date=March 1–8, 2008 |publisher=IEEE Explore|doi=10.1109/AERO.2008.4526539 |isbn=978-1-4244-1487-1 |s2cid=21599522 }}{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/edlcuriosity/ |title=Follow Curiosity's descent to Mars |access-date=August 23, 2012 |year=2012 |work=NASA |quote=Animation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821024425/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/edlcuriosity/ |archive-date=August 21, 2012 |df=mdy-all}} In December 2012, the debris field from the cruise stage was located by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Since the initial size, velocity, density and impact angle of the hardware are known, it will provide information on impact processes on the Mars surface and atmospheric properties.{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-386 |title=Orbiter Spies Where Rover's Cruise Stage Hit Mars |website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory }}

The MSL spacecraft departed Earth orbit and was inserted into a heliocentric Mars transfer orbit on November 26, 2011, shortly after launch, by the Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V launch vehicle. Prior to Centaur separation, the spacecraft was spin-stabilized at 2 rpm for attitude control during the {{convert|36210|kph|mph|abbr=on}} cruise to Mars.{{cite news |first=William |last=Harwood |title=Mars Science Laboratory begins cruise to red planet |date=November 26, 2011 |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/ |work=Spaceflight Now |access-date=August 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010412/http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/ |archive-date=April 27, 2014 }}

During cruise, eight thrusters arranged in two clusters were used as actuators to control spin rate and perform axial or lateral trajectory correction maneuvers. By spinning about its central axis, it maintained a stable attitude.{{Cite report |last=Way |first=David W. |title=Mars Science Laboratory: Entry, Descent, and Landing System Performance – System and Technology Challenges for Landing on the Earth, Moon, and Mars |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090007730_2009006430.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225022544/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090007730_2009006430.pdf |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |display-authors=etal}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dsi.unifi.it/DRIIA/RaccoltaTesi/Bacconi.pdf |title=Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control |access-date=August 11, 2012 |last=Bacconi |first=Fabio |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512135912/http://www.dsi.unifi.it/DRIIA/RaccoltaTesi/Bacconi.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |df=mdy-all}} Along the way, the cruise stage performed four trajectory correction maneuvers to adjust the spacecraft's path toward its landing site.{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1292 |title=Status Report – Curiosity's Daily Update |access-date=August 13, 2012 |date=August 6, 2012 |publisher=NASA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809203611/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1292 |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Information was sent to mission controllers via two X-band antennas. A key task of the cruise stage was to control the temperature of all spacecraft systems and dissipate the heat generated by power sources, such as solar cells and motors, into space. In some systems, insulating blankets kept sensitive science instruments warmer than the near-absolute zero temperature of space. Thermostats monitored temperatures and switched heating and cooling systems on or off as needed.

{{See also|Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory}}

Landing a large mass on Mars is particularly challenging as the atmosphere is too thin for parachutes and aerobraking alone to be effective, while remaining thick enough to create stability and impingement problems when decelerating with retrorockets. Although some previous missions have used airbags to cushion the shock of landing, the Curiosity rover is too heavy for this to be an option. Instead, Curiosity was set down on the Martian surface using a new high-accuracy entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that was part of the MSL spacecraft descent stage. The mass of this EDL system, including parachute, sky crane, fuel and aeroshell, is {{convert|2401|kg|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/spacecraft/ |title=Mission: Spacecraft |publisher=NASA |access-date=June 12, 2018}} The novel EDL system placed Curiosity within a {{convert|20|by|7|km|abbr=on}} landing ellipse, in contrast to the {{convert|150|by|20|km|abbr=on}} landing ellipse of the landing systems used by the Mars Exploration Rovers.

The entry-descent-landing (EDL) system differs from those used for other missions in that it does not require an interactive, ground-generated mission plan. During the entire landing phase, the vehicle acts autonomously, based on pre-loaded software and parameters. The EDL system was based on a Viking-derived aeroshell structure and propulsion system for a precision guided entry and soft landing, in contrasts with the airbag landings that were used in the mid-1990s by the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover missions. The spacecraft employed several systems in a precise order, with the entry, descent and landing sequence broken down into four parts—described below as the spaceflight events unfolded on August 6, 2012.

File:20090428MSLEntry1.jpg

Despite its late hour, particularly on the east coast of the United States where it was 1:31 a.m., the landing generated significant public interest. 3.2 million watched the landing live with most watching online instead of on television via NASA TV or cable news networks covering the event live.{{cite news |last=Kerr |first=Dara |title=Viewers opted for the Web over TV to watch Curiosity's landing |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57489660-93/viewers-opted-for-the-web-over-tv-to-watch-curiositys-landing/ |access-date=August 9, 2012 |newspaper=CNET |date=August 9, 2012}} The final landing place for the rover was less than {{convert|2.4|km|abbr=on}} from its target after a {{convert|563270400|km|abbr=on}} journey. In addition to streaming and traditional video viewing, JPL made Eyes on the Solar System, a three-dimensional real time simulation of entry, descent and landing based on real data. Curiosity{{'s}} touchdown time as represented in the software, based on JPL predictions, was less than 1 second different from reality.{{cite news |last=Ellison |first=Doug |title=MSL Sol 4 briefing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_FH6PByZeY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/y_FH6PByZeY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|newspaper=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The EDL phase of the MSL spaceflight mission to Mars took only seven minutes and unfolded automatically, as programmed by JPL engineers in advance, in a precise order, with the entry, descent and landing sequence occurring in four distinct event phases:

File:593419main pia14834-full full Mars Science Laboratory Guided Entry at Mars.jpg

Precision guided entry made use of onboard computing ability to steer itself toward the pre-determined landing site, improving landing accuracy from a range of hundreds of kilometers to {{convert|20|km|mi|sp=us}}. This capability helped remove some of the uncertainties of landing hazards that might be present in larger landing ellipses.{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/technology/insituexploration/edl/guidedentry/ |title=MSL – Guided Entry |access-date=August 8, 2012 |year=2011 |work=JPL |publisher=NASA}} Steering was achieved by the combined use of thrusters and ejectable balance masses.{{cite journal |title=The RCS Attitude Controller for the Exo-Atmospheric And Guided Entry Phases of the Mars Science Laboratory |journal=Planetary Probe |first1=Paul B. |last1=Brugarolas |first2=A. Miguel |last2=San Martin |first3=Edward C. |last3=Wong |url=http://www.planetaryprobe.eu/IPPW7/proceedings/IPPW7%20Proceedings/Papers/Session5/p453.pdf |access-date=August 8, 2012}} The ejectable balance masses shift the capsule center of mass enabling generation of a lift vector during the atmospheric phase. A navigation computer integrated the measurements to estimate the position and attitude of the capsule that generated automated torque commands. This was the first planetary mission to use precision landing techniques.

The rover was folded up within an aeroshell that protected it during the travel through space and during the atmospheric entry at Mars. Ten minutes before atmospheric entry the aeroshell separated from the cruise stage that provided power, communications and propulsion during the long flight to Mars. One minute after separation from the cruise stage thrusters on the aeroshell fired to cancel out the spacecraft's 2-rpm rotation and achieved an orientation with the heat shield facing Mars in preparation for Atmospheric entry. The heat shield is made of phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA). The {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}} diameter heat shield, which is the largest heat shield ever flown in space, reduced the velocity of the spacecraft by ablation against the Martian atmosphere, from the atmospheric interface velocity of approximately {{convert|5.8|km/s|abbr=on}} down to approximately {{convert|470|m/s|abbr=on}}, where parachute deployment was possible about four minutes later. One minute and 15 seconds after entry the heat shield experienced peak temperatures of up to {{convert|2090|C|F|abbr=on}} as atmospheric pressure converted kinetic energy into heat. Ten seconds after peak heating, that deceleration peaked out at 15 g.

Much of the reduction of the landing precision error was accomplished by an entry guidance algorithm, derived from the algorithm used for guidance of the Apollo Command Modules returning to Earth in the Apollo program. This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to "fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of mass is offset from the axial centerline that results in an off-center trim angle in atmospheric flight. This was accomplished by ejecting ballast masses consisting of two {{convert|75|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} tungsten weights minutes before atmospheric entry. The lift vector was controlled by four sets of two reaction control system (RCS) thrusters that produced approximately {{convert|500|N|lbf|abbr=on}} of thrust per pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift allowed the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle ejected more ballast mass consisting of six {{convert|25|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} tungsten weights such that the center of gravity offset was removed.

File:MSL parachute.jpg

File:MRO sees Curiosity landing.jpg as the probe descended to the surface. August 6, 2012.]]

When the entry phase was complete and the capsule slowed to about {{convert|470|m/s|abbr=on}} at about {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} altitude, the supersonic parachute deployed, as was done by previous landers such as Viking, Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Exploration Rovers. The parachute has 80 suspension lines, is over {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, and is about {{convert|16|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. Capable of being deployed at Mach 2.2, the parachute can generate up to {{convert|289|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} of drag force in the Martian atmosphere. After the parachute was deployed, the heat shield separated and fell away. A camera beneath the rover acquired about 5 frames per second (with resolution of 1600×1200 pixels) below {{convert|3.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} during a period of about 2 minutes until the rover sensors confirmed successful landing. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team were able to acquire an image of the MSL descending under the parachute.

File:593472main pia14838 full Curiosity and Descent Stage, Artist's Concept.jpg

Following the parachute braking, at about {{convert|1.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} altitude, still travelling at about {{convert|100|m/s|mph|abbr=on}}, the rover and descent stage dropped out of the aeroshell. The descent stage is a platform above the rover with eight variable thrust monopropellant hydrazine rocket thrusters on arms extending around this platform to slow the descent. Each rocket thruster, called a Mars Lander Engine (MLE), produces {{convert|400|to|3100|N|lbf|abbr=on}} of thrust and were derived from those used on the Viking landers. A radar altimeter measured altitude and velocity, feeding data to the rover's flight computer. Meanwhile, the rover transformed from its stowed flight configuration to a landing configuration while being lowered beneath the descent stage by the "sky crane" system.

{{Main|Sky crane (landing system)}}

File:675608main_edl20120809-full.jpg

File:593484main pia14839 full Curiosity's Sky Crane Maneuver, Artist's Concept.jpg

For several reasons, a different landing system was chosen for MSL compared to previous Mars landers and rovers. Curiosity was considered too heavy to use the airbag landing system as used on the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rovers. A legged lander approach would have caused several design problems. It would have needed to have engines high enough above the ground when landing not to form a dust cloud that could damage the rover's instruments. This would have required long landing legs that would need to have significant width to keep the center of gravity low. A legged lander would have also required ramps so the rover could drive down to the surface, which would have incurred extra risk to the mission on the chance rocks or tilt would prevent Curiosity from being able to drive off the lander successfully. Faced with these challenges, the MSL engineers came up with a novel alternative solution: the sky crane. The sky crane system lowered the rover with a {{convert|7.6|m|foot|abbr=on}} tether to a soft landing—wheels down—on the surface of Mars. This system consists of a bridle lowering the rover on three nylon tethers and an electrical cable carrying information and power between the descent stage and rover. As the support and data cables unreeled, the rover's six motorized wheels snapped into position. At roughly {{convert|7.5|m|abbr=on}} below the descent stage the sky crane system slowed to a halt and the rover touched down. After the rover touched down, it waited two seconds to confirm that it was on solid ground by detecting the weight on the wheels and fired several pyros (small explosive devices) activating cable cutters on the bridle and umbilical cords to free itself from the descent stage. The descent stage then flew away to a crash landing {{convert|650|m|foot|abbr=on}} away.{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120807.html |title=Orbiter Images NASA's Martian Landscape Additions |access-date=August 9, 2012 |date=August 8, 2012 |work=NASA}} The sky crane concept had never been used in missions before.

{{Main|Bradbury Landing|Gale (crater)}}

Gale Crater is the MSL landing site. Within Gale Crater is a mountain, named Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp"),{{cite web |author=NASA Staff |title='Mount Sharp' on Mars Compared to Three Big Mountains on Earth |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15292-Fig2.html |date=March 27, 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-date=May 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507134815/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15292-Fig2.html |url-status=dead }} of layered rocks, rising about {{convert|5.5|km|ft|abbr=on}} above the crater floor, that Curiosity will investigate. The landing site is a smooth region in "Yellowknife" Quad 51{{cite web |author=NASA Staff |title=Curiosity's Quad – IMAGE |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4408 |date=August 10, 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=August 11, 2012|author-link=NASA }}{{cite web |last1=Agle |first1=DC |last2=Webster |first2=Guy |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA's Curiosity Beams Back a Color 360 of Gale Crate |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120809.html |date=August 9, 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=August 11, 2012 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602033109/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120809.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |title=Mars rover makes first colour panorama |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19201742 |date=August 9, 2012 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=August 9, 2012}}{{cite news |last=Halvorson |first=Todd |title=Quad 51: Name of Mars base evokes rich parallels on Earth |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/story/2012-08-09/mars-panorama-curiosity-quad-51/56922978/1 |date=August 9, 2012 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=August 12, 2012}} of Aeolis Palus inside the crater in front of the mountain. The target landing site location was an elliptical area {{convert|20|by|7|km|abbr=on}}. Gale Crater's diameter is {{convert|154|km|abbr=on}}.

The landing location for the rover was less than {{convert|2.4|km|abbr=on}} from the center of the planned landing ellipse, after a {{convert|350000000|mi|abbr=on|sigfig=3|order=flip}} journey.{{cite news |title='Impressive' Curiosity landing only 1.5 miles off, NASA says |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/us/mars-curiosity/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn |date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2012}} NASA named the rover landing site Bradbury Landing on sol {{age in sols|2012|8|6|2012|08|22}}, August 22, 2012.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne |last2=Cole |first2=Steve |last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Agle |first4=D.C. |title=NASA Mars Rover Begins Driving at Bradbury Landing |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-292_Mars_Bradbury_Landing.html |date=August 22, 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=August 22, 2012 |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115041146/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-292_Mars_Bradbury_Landing.html |url-status=dead }} According to NASA, an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 heat-resistant bacterial spores were on Curiosity at launch, and as much as 1,000 times that number may not have been counted.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Is Pretty Clean. Her Job at NASA Is to Keep It That Way. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/science/mars-catharine-conley-nasa-planetary-protection-officer.html |date=October 5, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 6, 2015}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = MSL Launches to the Red Planet.ogg

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| caption1 = MSL launches from Cape Canaveral.

| image2 = Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror.ogv

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| caption2 = MSL's Seven Minutes of Terror, a NASA video describing the landing

| image3 = Curiosity's descent in high-definition.ogv

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| caption3 = MSL's descent to the surface of Gale Crater

| image4 = Curiosity heat-shield landing on Mars - MRO.ogv

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| caption4 = MSL's heat shield hitting Martian ground and raising a cloud of dust

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{{Gallery

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| width = 180

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|Image:Mars Science Laboratory landing ellipse reduced.jpg|Curiosity's landing site is on Aeolis Palus near Mount Sharp in Gale Crater – north is down.

|Image:NASA-MSL-Curiosity -Heat-shield.674789main pia16021-full full.jpg|Ejected Heat Shield as the rover descended to the Martian surface (August 6, 2012 05:17 UTC)|Image:HiRISE image of MSL during EDL (refined).png|Curiosity descending under its parachute, as viewed by HiRISE (MRO) (August 6, 2012)|Image:PIA15696-HiRISE-MSL-Sol11 2 -br2.jpg|MSL's debris field on August 17, 2012 (3-D versions: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130512005245/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Rover3D-pia16208-br2.jpg rover] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20130511233231/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Parachute3D-pia16209-br2.jpg parachute])|Image:Curiosity Rover (Exaggerated Color) - HiRISE - 20120814.jpg|Curiosity's landing site (Bradbury Landing) viewed by HiRISE (MRO) (August 14, 2012)|Image:First picture sent by the Mars Curiosity rover.jpg|Curiosity's first image after landing – The rover's wheel can be seen (August 6, 2012).|Image:First colored image from Curiosity.jpg|Curiosity's first color image of the Martian landscape (August 6, 2012)|Image:PIA16094-Mars Curiosity Rover-First Drive Tracks.jpg|Curiosity's first test drive (Bradbury Landing) (August 22, 2012)

}}

{{wide image|PIA16072-MarsCuriosityRover-20120809.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Curiosity rover – near Bradbury Landing (August 9, 2012)}}

{{wide image|PIA16768-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-20120920.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Curiosity{{'s}} view of Mount Sharp (September 20, 2012; white balanced) ([http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16769.jpg raw color])}}

{{wide image|PIA16453-MarsCuriosityRover-RocknestPanorama-20121126.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Curiosity{{'s}} view from the "Rocknest" looking eastward toward "Point Lake" (center) on the way to "Glenelg Intrigue" (November 26, 2012; white balanced) (raw color)}}

{{wide image|PIA19912-MarsCuriosityRover-MountSharp-20151002.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Curiosity{{'s}} view of Mount Sharp (September 9, 2015)}}

{{wide image|Martian-Sunset-O-de-Goursac-Curiosity-2013.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Curiosity{{'s}} view of Mars sky at sunset (February 2013; Sun simulated by artist)}}

{{Clear}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{annotated link|Aeolis quadrangle}}
• {{annotated link|Astrobiology}}
• {{annotated link|ExoMars}}
• Exploration of Mars
• {{annotated link|InSight}}
• {{annotated link|List of missions to Mars}}
• {{annotated link|List of rocks on Mars}}
• {{annotated link|Mars 2020}}
• {{annotated link|MAVEN}}
• {{annotated link|Robotic spacecraft}}
• {{annotated link|Scientific information from the Mars Exploration Rover mission}}
• {{annotated link|U.S. space exploration history on U.S. stamps}}

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Craddock |title=Suggestion: Stop Improving – Why does every Mars mission have to be better than the last? |date=November 1, 2007 |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/WORLDS-MSL.html |work=Air & Space/Smithsonian |access-date=November 10, 2007}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.windriver.com/news/press/pr.html?ID=10901 |title=Wind River's VxWorks Powers Mars Science Laboratory Rover, Curiosity |access-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920083008/http://windriver.com/news/press/pr.html?ID=10901 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-276_Curiosity_Rover_Software_Update.html |title=NASA Curiosity Mars Rover Installing Smarts for Driving |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209011358/https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-276_Curiosity_Rover_Software_Update.html |url-status=dead }}

{{Cite report |last1=Makovsky|first1=Andre|last2=Ilott|first2=Peter|last3=Taylor|first3=Jim |title=Mars Science Laboratory Telecommunications System Design- Article 14 – DESCANSO Design and Performance Summary Series |publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory – NASA |place=Pasadena, California |date=November 2009 |url=http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso14_MSL_Telecom.pdf}}

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{{cite web |title=New Mars Rover to Feature Morse Code |url=http://www.arrl.org/news/new-mars-rover-to-feature-morse-code |publisher=American Radio Relay League}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_2008-08-1.pdf |title=E&ISNow — Media gets closer look at Manassas |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2008 |publisher=BAE Systems |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918035844/http://www.baesystems.com///BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_2008-08-1.pdf |archive-date=September 18, 2008}}

{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Amos |title=Nasa's Curiosity rover targets smaller landing zone |date=June 12, 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18401248 |work=BBC News |access-date=June 12, 2012}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia13282.html |title=Final Minutes of Curiosity's Arrival at Mars |publisher=NASA/JPL |access-date=April 8, 2011}}

{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Amos |title=Gale Crater: Geological 'sweet shop' awaits Mars rover |date=August 3, 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19112800 |work=BBC News |access-date=August 6, 2012}}

{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA's Next Mars Rover To Land At Gale Crater |date=July 22, 2011 |publisher=NASA JPL |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1 |access-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-date=June 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607022755/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news |last1=Chow |first1=Dennis |title=NASA's Next Mars Rover to Land at Huge Gale Crater |url=http://www.space.com/12394-nasa-mars-rover-landing-site-unveiled.html |date=July 22, 2011 |work=Space.com |access-date=July 22, 2011}}

{{cite news |last1=Amos |first1=Jonathan |title=Mars rover aims for deep crater |date=July 22, 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14249524 |work=BBC News |access-date=July 22, 2011}}

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{{cite web |url=http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html |title=Final 7 Prospective Landing Sites |access-date=February 9, 2009 |publisher=NASA |date=February 19, 2009 |archive-date=April 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413014816/http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |author=Guy Webster |title=Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-171 |publisher=NASA/JPL-Caltech |access-date=September 22, 2011 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418040333/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-171 |url-status=dead }}

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{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYK8r6tlrg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/sfYK8r6tlrg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Looking at Landing Sites for the Mars Science Laboratory |date=May 27, 2009 |access-date=May 28, 2009 |work=YouTube |publisher=NASA/JPL}}{{cbignore}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/mars-power-heating.pdf |title=Mars Exploration: Radioisotope Power and Heating for Mars Surface Exploration |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=April 18, 2006 |access-date=September 7, 2009 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012013153/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/mars-power-heating.pdf |url-status=dead }}

[http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=36353 Second Announcement for the Final MSL Landing Site Workshop and Call for Papers] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120908020952/http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=36353 |date=September 8, 2012 }} March 2011

{{cite web |url=http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/Mastcam/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218185839/http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/Mastcam/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |title=Mast Camera (Mastcam) |publisher=NASA/JPL |access-date=March 18, 2009}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/~atkinson/SeniorDesign/ThermEx/MEDLI/MEDLI_SDR_Project_Overview.pdf |title=Science Overview System Design Review (SDR) |first=Michael |last=Wright |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=May 1, 2007 |access-date=September 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001023152/http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/~atkinson/SeniorDesign/ThermEx/MEDLI/MEDLI_SDR_Project_Overview.pdf |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}

{{cite web |title=NASA Selects Student's Entry as New Mars Rover Name |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl-20090527.html |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=May 27, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2009 |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128183601/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl-20090527.html |url-status=dead }}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html |title=Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity |first=Tony |last=Greicius |date=January 20, 2015 }}

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{{cite web |last=Agle |first=D. C. |title='Mount Sharp' On Mars Links Geology's Past and Future |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120328.html |date=March 28, 2012 |publisher=NASA |access-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306035214/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120328.html |url-status=dead }}

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{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landingsiteselection/holdencrater2/ |title=Possible MSL Landing Site: Holden Crater - Mars Science Laboratory |first=JPL |last=NASA |access-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430231848/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landingsiteselection/holdencrater2/ |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landingsiteselection/galecrater2/ |title=Gale Crater - Mars Science Laboratory |first=JPL |last=NASA |access-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117033535/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landingsiteselection/galecrater2/ |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

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[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/workshops/4th_workshop/program.html Presentations for the Fourth MSL Landing Site Workshop] September 2010

{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/essay-20090527.html |title=NASA - Curiosity }}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/malin-4.html |title=Seventeen Cameras on Curiosity |first=NASA |last=Administrator |date=June 6, 2013 }}

NASA, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl-20090710.html Large Heat Shield for Mars Science Laboratory], July 10, 2009 (Retrieved March 26, 2010)

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{{cite web |title=Next Mars Rover Sports a Set of New Wheels |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl20100701.html |publisher=NASA/JPL |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705201856/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/msl20100701.html |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/newsroom/pressreleases/20081204a.html |title=Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled For 2011 |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=December 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611092312/http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/newsroom/pressreleases/20081204a.html |archive-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=25991 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916132710/http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=25991 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |title=Mars Science Laboratory Instrumentation Announcement from Alan Stern and Jim Green, NASA Headquarters |work=SpaceRef Interactive}}

{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Paul K. |title=NASA'S Management of the Mars Science Laboratory Project (IG-11-019) |url=http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf |publisher=NASA Office of the Inspector General |access-date=June 8, 2011 |archive-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203022237/http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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{{cite news |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |title=Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE has done it again!! |date=August 6, 2012 |publisher=Planetary Society |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/08060824-hirise-curiosity-parachute.html |work=NASA |access-date=August 6, 2012}}

{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=4074 |title=Radiation Levels on the Way to Mars - Mars Science Laboratory |last=mars.nasa.gov }}

{{cite news |title=RAD6000 Space Computers |publisher=BAE Systems |url=http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_sfrwre.pdf |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004130528/http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_sfrwre.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2009 }}

{{cite news |title=RAD750 radiation-hardened PowerPC microprocessor |publisher=BAE Systems |url=http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/@businesses/@eandis/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_rad750_pwr_pc_mp.pdf |date=July 1, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2009}}

{{cite web |url=http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/?p=131 |title=Reconnaissance of MSL Sites |access-date=October 21, 2008 |date=January 4, 2008 |work=HiBlog |author=GuyMac}}

[http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/11/28/sky-crane-how-to-land-curiosity-on-the-surface-of-mars/ Sky Crane – how to land Curiosity on the surface of Mars] by Amal Shira Teitel.

{{cite web |url=http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl2009/workshops/2nd_workshop/2nd_announcement.html |title=Second MSL Landing Site Workshop}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflight101.com/msl-mission-updates-3.html |title=MSL Mission Updates |newspaper=Spaceflight101.com |date=August 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825095610/http://www.spaceflight101.com/msl-mission-updates-3.html |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid=26970 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20081127002707/http%3A//www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid%3D26970 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |title=Site List Narrows For NASA's Next Mars Landing |date=November 19, 2008 |work=Mars Today |access-date=April 21, 2009}}

{{cite web |author=Staff writers |title=NASA's New Mars Rover Will Explore Towering 'Mount Sharp' |url=http://www.space.com/15097-mars-mountain-sharp-curiosity-rover.html |date=March 29, 2012 |work=Space.com |access-date=March 30, 2012}}

{{cite news |title=Curiosity relies on untried 'sky crane' for Mars descent |date=July 31, 2012 |work=Spaceflight Now |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/msl/120731skycrane/ |access-date=August 1, 2012}}

{{cite news |author=William Harwood |title=Relay sats provide ringside seat for Mars rover landing |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/msl/120731relay/ |work=Spaceflight Now |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=July 1, 2013}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.aerospaceguide.net/mars/science_laboratory.html |title=Mars Science Laboratory |access-date=February 4, 2012 |last=Stathopoulos |first=Vic |date=October 2011 |work=Aerospace Guide}}

{{cite news |title=Survivor: Mars — Seven Possible MSL Landing Sites |date=September 18, 2008 |publisher=NASA |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landingsiteselection/sevencandidates/ |work=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |access-date=October 21, 2008}}

{{Cite news |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1318/1 |title=Mars Science Laboratory: the budgetary reasons behind its delay |work=The Space Review |first=Adrian |last=Brown |date=March 2, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |quote=NASA first put a reliable figure of the cost of the MSL mission at the "Phase A/Phase B transition", after a preliminary design review (PDR) that approved instruments, design and engineering of the whole mission. That was in August 2006—and the Congress-approved figure was $1.63 billion. ... With this request, the MSL budget had reached $1.9 billion. ... NASA HQ requested JPL prepare an assessment of costs to complete the construction of MSL by the next launch opportunity (in October 2011). This figure came in around $300 million, and NASA HQ has estimated this will translate to at least $400 million (assuming reserves will be required), to launch MSL and operate it on the surface of Mars from 2012 through 2014.}}

{{cite news |author=Nancy Atkinson |title=Mars Science Laboratory: Still Alive, For Now |url=http://www.universetoday.com/2008/10/10/mars-science-laboratory-still-alive-for-now |work=Universe Today |date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2013}}

{{cite news |author=Ken Kremer |title=Assembling Curiosity's Rocket to Mars |url=http://www.universetoday.com/89346/assembling-curiosity%E2%80%99s-rocket-to-mars/ |work=Universe Today |date=October 9, 2011 |access-date=July 9, 2013}}

{{cite web |title=NASA Mars Rover Team Aims for Landing Closer to Prime Science Site |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120611.html |publisher=NASA/JPL |access-date=May 15, 2012 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615121743/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120611.html |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19219782 |title=Curiosity rover made near-perfect landing |publisher=BBC |first=Jonathan |last=Amos |date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=August 13, 2012}}

[http://www.lpi.usra.edu/pss/jan92009/presentations/mslTechnicalCook.pdf MSL Technical and Replan Status]. Richard Cook. (January 9, 2009)

{{cite magazine |last=Mann |first=Adam |title=What NASA's Next Mars Rover Will Discover |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/06/msl-mars-new-discoveries/ |date=June 25, 2012 |publisher=Wired Magazine |access-date=June 26, 2012}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noy8o0lN1fE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/noy8o0lN1fE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Mars Science Laboratory (Full) |last=BotJunkie |date=June 2, 2007 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

{{cite web |title=Name NASA's Next Mars Rover |url=http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/ |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=May 27, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222103916/http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/ |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

}}

• {{cite journal |author=M. K. Lockwood |title=Introduction: Mars Science Laboratory: The Next Generation of Mars Landers And The Following 13 articles |journal=Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |volume=43 |issue=2 |page=257 |year=2006 |url=http://pdf.aiaa.org/jaPreview/JSR/2006/PVJA20678.pdf |doi=10.2514/1.20678 |bibcode=2006JSpRo..43..257L |access-date=November 13, 2006 |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809003132/http://pdf.aiaa.org/jaPreview/JSR/2006/PVJA20678.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Grotzinger |first1=J. P. |last2=Crisp |first2=J. |author2-link=Joy Crisp |last3=Vasavada |first3=A. R. |last4=Anderson |first4=R. C. |last5=Baker |first5=C. J. |last6=Barry |first6=R. |last7=Blake |first7=D. F. |last8=Conrad |first8=P. |last9=Edgett |first9=K. S. | last10 = Ferdowski | first10 = B. |last11=Gellert |first11=R. |last12=Gilbert |first12=J. B. |last13=Golombek |first13=M. |last14=Gómez-Elvira |first14=J. |last15=Hassler |first15=D. M. |last16=Jandura |first16=L. |last17=Litvak |first17=M. |last18=Mahaffy |first18=P. |last19=Maki |first19=J. | last20 = Meyer | first20 = M. |last21=Malin |first21=M. C. |last22=Mitrofanov |first22=I. |last23=Simmonds |first23=J. J. |last24=Vaniman |first24=D. |last25=Welch |first25=R. V. |last26=Wiens |first26=R. C. |title=Mars Science Laboratory Mission and Science Investigation |doi=10.1007/s11214-012-9892-2 |journal=Space Science Reviews |volume=170 |issue=1–4 |pages=5–56 |year=2012 |bibcode=2012SSRv..170....5G|doi-access=free }}—overview article about the MSL, landing site, and instrumentation

{{Commons category}}

{{Wiktionary|Mars Science Laboratory}}

• [https://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ MSL Home Page]
• [https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/files/mep/msl_sci_team_key_papers.pdf Scientific Publications by MSL Team Members] (PDF)
• [https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/files/msl/MSL_Press_Kit.pdf MSL – Media Press Kit (November, 2011)] (PDF)
• [https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html Image Gallery]
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/JPLnews MSL – NASA/JPL News Channel Videos]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E37Ss9Tm36c MSL – Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL) – Animated Video (02:00)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UULA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ MSL – NASA Updates – *REPLAY* Anytime (NASA-YouTube)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zervvVw2dnU MSL – "Curiosity Lands" (08/06/2012) – NASA/JPL – Video (03:40)]
• Descent video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsdobLq1-4 sim&real/narrated], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJgeoHBQpFQ MSL real time/25fps], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlKW1KG8ies all/4fp], [http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/releases/msl-descent.php HiRise]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki_Af_o9Q9s MSL – Landing ("7 Minutes of Terror")]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrxvbRA2xCI MSL – Landing Site – Gale Crater – Animated/Narrated Video (02:37)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4boyXQuUIw MSL – Mission Summary – Animated/Extended Video (11:20)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QCNsKricls MSL – "Curiosity Launch" (11/26/2011) – NASA/Kennedy – Video (04:00)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131215005525/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/interactives/photosynth/ MSL – NASA/JPL Virtual Tour – Rover]
• [https://spectrum.ieee.org/msl-what-to-expect-on-sunday-night MSL – Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL) – Timeline/ieee]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050127234438/http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/rfp/motion-simulator/MSL_EDL_Overview.pdf MSL – Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL) – Description.] (PDF)
• [https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/ MSL – Raw Images], Listing by JPL (official)

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