~Yesterday, the Mars Science Laboratory mission launched from Cape Canaveral, beginning an eight-month voyage to the fourth planet of our solar system:
In a bit over 250 days, the mission will reach Mars to deploy Curiosity, a nuclear-powered, SUV-sized rover equipped with a sophisticated suite of scientific instruments to meet eight scientific objectives in the fields of biology, geology, planetology, and radioactivity:
With a successful launch, the mission has completed its second-most-difficult step. The greatest challenge will come when the rover deploys to the surface of the planet using a new method that combines a parachute and a rocket-guided sky crane:
I’m looking forward to the July landing of Curiosity on Mars, and I hope you are too!
