300.06 - Mars Rover Curiosity

NASA's $2.5-billion mission involved the work of more than 5,000 people from 37 states, some of whom had labored for 10 years to hear the two words that Al Chen, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer, said inside mission control at 10:32 p.m.: “Touchdown confirmed.”

Chen reported that Curiosity was in a “nice flat place,” and as icing on the cake, the spacecraft sent home thumbnail photographs of itself. Officials had said earlier in the day that photographs were possible but unlikely. Curiosity responded by immediately delivering a series of images, one showing one of its wheels resting comfortably on the floor of an ancient crater.

Historic Landing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNviFQpRvwQ

Curiosity Final Preparations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xm8WfZ3Ed4

Curiosity Landing - ABC News Report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oLaC1VYoTM