Blog Archive

How Curiosity Will Land on Mars, Part 3: Skycrane and landing

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/06 07:01 CDT | 6 comments

The final phase of Curiosity's landing on Mars involves the "skycrane maneuver" and will leave the rover on its wheels ready for its mission on Mars to begin.

Photo by astronaut Don Pettit on Space Station Expedition 31, shortly before his return to Earth, taken on June 30, 2012.

Birth of a New Moon

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/05 12:01 CDT

As astronaut Don Pettit prepared for his return to Earth, he tweeted several beautiful shots from the Space Station.

Curiosity artist's concept EDL 00 approach

Bill Nye on CNN Says US Risks Losing Its Space Edge

Posted by Jennifer Vaughn on 2012/07/05 10:26 CDT

Watch the Planetary Society CEO tell CNN why a reduction in NASA's planetary science funding is a mistake.

Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Digs Cape York, Roves to New Milestone

Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2012/07/04 01:57 CDT | 3 comments

Even robots deserve a break once in a while, and when the Mars Odyssey orbiter went into safe mode in June, Opportunity got the chance to hang out and leisurely take in her surroundings at the Red Planet, while the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission downshifted into lower gear.