Snapshots from Space

by Emily Lakdawalla

Follow the thrilling adventures of planetary missions, past and present, and see the stunningly beautiful photos that they return from space!

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We are on Mars

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/06 05:19 CDT | 13 comments

Somehow, it worked. Curiosity has landed on Mars, returning photos of her wheels and her shadow on a flat, pebbled plain.

Emily Lakdawalla at JPL for Curiosity's landing, August 5, 2012

Where I will be watching Curiosity's landing

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/05 09:03 CDT | 1 comments

People have been asking how to tune in to the landing. Here's some information on how (and from where) I'll be watching tonight's events.

Curiosity: Landing minus 11 hours

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/05 01:30 CDT

The Curiosity mission's final pre-landing press briefing wrapped up a short while ago. There wasn't much in the way of news, which is a good thing. Curiosity is healthy. Odyssey is healthy. There's not much left to do but wait.

Curiosity artist's concept EDL 20 parachute descent

Curiosity landing minus two days

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/04 01:17 CDT | 1 comments

I just came out of a press briefing at JPL, on the morning of the day before Curiosity's landing. The panel seemed fairly calm -- anxious, certainly, but the happy kind of anxiety that precedes something that could be great.

This photo of Mars was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on May 9, 2003. Processed by Ted Stryk.

Mars24 has been upgraded for Curiosity

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/03 10:46 CDT

Robert Schmunk has released a new version of the Mars24 application to help us tell time at Curiosity's landing site.

Curiosity photo face by Emily Lakdawalla

Video: This is not the droid you're looking for

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/02 10:26 CDT

Just to break the tension in advance of Curiosity's landing, a little humor from UnmannedSpaceflight.com's Astro0.

Videos: Where are Curiosity's science instruments and how do they work?

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/01 12:51 CDT | 2 comments

Mat Kaplan and I recently recorded a couple of videos giving a tour of the science instruments on the Curiosity Mars rover.

Press briefing schedule for Curiosity (assuming a nominal landing)

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/30 07:53 CDT | 4 comments

JPL has published a schedule for press briefings in the first week of Curiosity's mission on Mars.

Opportunity contemplates Whim Creek, sol 3020 (July 23, 2012)

Pretty Panoramas: Opportunity at Whim Creek

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/30 01:11 CDT | 2 comments

I know it’s been all Curiosity, all the time on this blog for the last couple of weeks, and that’s not likely to change much for the next couple of weeks. But I don’t want people to forget that there’s another rover exploring Mars’ ancient geology. Opportunity has been taking spectacular photos of Whim Creek and Endeavour Crater this last week.

Celebrate Curiosity with a “Party on Mars!” Saturday night!

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/30 08:16 CDT | 1 comments

Join me and Bill Nye to blow off some steam on Saturday night as we anticipate Curiosity’s landing! In the spirit of such nerdtacular gatherings as W00tstock and LeetUp, we’re having a big party at the Paseo Colorado here in Pasadena to celebrate Curiosity!