NASA rover lands on Mars after plummet
Staff - Mon 12:57 AM 08/06/2012
The most high-tech Mars rover ever built has landed on the red planet.
NASA says it received a signal from the Curiosity rover Sunday night after a plunge through the Martian atmosphere described as "seven minutes of terror."
The rover is the size of a small car, so engineers had to come up with a new way to set it down. For the first time, cables were used to lower the rover inside of a giant crater.
At $2.5 billion, it's the most ambitious and priciest Mars mission yet. For the next two years, the rover will drill into rocks and scoop up soil. It will be exploring whether the planet's environment could have supported life in the form of microscopic organisms.
Comments must stay on topic and be respectful. Comments that are personal attacks, make unfounded accusations, or are for the purpose of "trolling" or inciting others will be removed. Offending users will have their profile suspended.
Post a comment Log in or Register to comment
t-bone
Monday 6 August 2012 06:12 Report this comment
what a waste. i had rockets and posters when i was a kid but i got over it. theres as much life uup there as there is in a cemetary
tracr
Monday 6 August 2012 07:04 Report this comment
*What *I *kid, *There's *up *cemetery. At least try to make it look like you're not completely ignorant.
t-bone
Monday 6 August 2012 08:00 Report this comment
i is a gradiate of south high. taccr
LadyKatherine
Monday 6 August 2012 08:19 Report this comment
This is very exciting. Just the landing of Curiosity is amazing. I can't wait to see what images we receive in the next two years.