Jim Bell • Aug 22, 2012
Curiosity's landing site named for Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury explored Mars, and the future of humanity, through words and ideas--vehicles of the imagination. He was a visionary author and, through his writings and lectures, was a direct or indirect mentor to so many of us involved with designing, building, and operating the actual space vehicles of today. I think it is so fitting, then, that the MSL team has memorialized Ray's contributions to the exploration of the planets--and especially Mars--by naming Curiosity's landing site in his honor.
As a member of our Advisory Council, Ray was also a good friend of The Planetary Society, especially helping the Society establish its early roots in advocacy and public engagement. His "Martian Chronicles" is actually on Mars now, on a special DVD sent to the planet in 2008 as part of the Society's contribution to the Phoenix lander mission. I look forward to the day when people can visit Bradbury Landing in Gale crater themselves, relive the dramatic Sky Crane landing events of a few weeks ago (the retrorocket scour marks should still be there!), and reflect together on Ray Bradbury's profound influence on this grand enterprise of exploring our neighboring worlds.
![Bradbury Landing](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x721_crop_center-center_82_line/20120901_mars_msl_sol16_pan_bradbury-landing_crop_db.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x461_crop_center-center_60_line/20120901_mars_msl_sol16_pan_bradbury-landing_crop_db.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x346_crop_center-center_60_line/20120901_mars_msl_sol16_pan_bradbury-landing_crop_db.jpg 576w)
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