This animation still shows the approximate true position of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars as of landing on August 5, 2012 (August 6 EDT). A 3-D virtual model of Curiosity is shown inside Gale Crater, near Mount Sharp, Curiosity's ultimate destination.
This is a labeled version of one of the first images taken by a rear Hazard-Avoidance camera on NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars the evening of Aug. 5, 2012, PDT (morning of Aug. 6 EDT). The image shows a fin on the radioisotope thermoelectric generator (the rover's power source), the rear left wheel and a spring that released the dust cover on the Hazard-Avoidance camera.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity snapped this picture of Mount Sharp with its front Hazard Avoidance camera, or Hazcam. The photo was released by NASA on Aug. 6, 2012.
Around 1,000 people watch NASA's Curiosity rover land on Mars from New York City's Times Square Sunday (Aug. 5).
This color thumbnail image was obtained by NASA's Curiosity rover during its descent to the surface of Mars on Aug. 5 PDT (Aug. 6 EDT). The image was obtained by the Mars Descent Imager instrument known as MARDI and shows the 15-foot (4.5-meter) diameter heat shield when it was about 50 feet (16 meters) from the spacecraft.
This still from NASA TV shows a photo of the Mars rover Curiosity under its parachute as it landed on Mars on Aug. 5 PDT, 2012. The photo was taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The inset is has been enlarged and adjusted to reduce saturation.
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) GDS Engineer Rob Sweet, left, reacts along with other MSL team members after the MSL rover Curiosity successfully landed on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden congratulates NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate John M. Grunsfeld after the Mars Science laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity successfully landed on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.
This full-resolution version of one of the first images taken by a rear-left Hazard-Avoidance camera on NASA's Curiosity rover, was released on Aug. 6, 2012.The image was originally taken through the "fisheye" wide-angle lens, but has been "linearized" so that the horizon looks flat rather than curved. Part of the rim of Gale Crater can be seen from the top-middle to the top-right of the image, and one of the rover's wheels is pictured at the bottom right.
Christopher J. Scolese, Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, left, congratulates, MSL Entry, Descent and Landing Engineer Adam Steltzner as they look at the first images of Mars to come from the Curiosity rover shortly after it landed on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team in the MSL Mission Support Area reacts after learning the the Curiosity rover has landed safely on Mars and images start coming in at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Pasadena, Calif.
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Entry, Descent and Landing Engineer Adam Steltzner reacts after the Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars and as first images start coming in to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Pasadena, Calif.
This image from Curiosity's Mars Descent Imager illustrates the roughly circular swirls of dust kicked up from the Martian surface by the rocket motor exhaust. At this point, Curiosity is about 70 feet (20 meters) above the surface. This dust cloud was generated when the Curiosity rover was being lowered to the surface while the sky crane hovered above. Curiosity landed on Mars on the night of Aug. 5, and this photo was released by NASA on Aug. 6, 2012.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is spotted descending to the Martian surface under its parachute in this amazing photo by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on Aug. 5 PDT, 2012.
This image was obtained by Curiosity's Mars Descent Imager and is representative of the images acquired once the Curiosity rover was resting on the surface of Mars after touchdown. It illustrates a narrow sunlit strip of the pebble-covered surface while the rest of the view is in the shadow of the rover. It was taken seconds after touchdown on the night of Aug. 5, 2012. The photo was released by NASA on Aug. 6, 2012.
This first image from the Mars rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars shows the rover's shadow as seen by a navigation camera. NASA released the image just minutes after the rover's successful Aug. 5 PDT, 2012 landing.
Curiosity immediately began beaming back images from Mars after landing, as seen at JPL, Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012.
MSL team members react with jubilation as the first thumbnail from Curiosity rover arrives at JPL in Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012.
Very first image from Curiosity rover on Mars, as seen at JPL in Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012.
JPL technicians react to the news that Curiosity has landed on Mars, August 6, 2012.
MSL press conference panelists raising arms in exultation following the succesful landing of Curiosity rover on Mars, August 5, 2012.
Members of the MSL team excitedly greet each other at the start of the Curiosity rover press conference at JPL in Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012.
Clara Ma, who provided the winning name of Curiosity for the Mars Science Laboratory rover, is acknowledged at the JPL press conference following the successful landing on Mars, August 5, 2012.
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren speaks at the press conference at JPL, Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012, following the successful landing of Curiosity rover on Mars.
Press conference at JPL in Pasadena, CA, on August 5, 2012, following the successful landing of Curiosity rover on Mars.
NASA Administrator Bolden speaks briefly to NASA TV at JPL in Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012, following the successful landing of Curiosity rover on Mars.
JPL technicians about to turn off the uplink transmitter, August 5, 2012.
On August 5, 2012, Rob Manning, MSL Chief Engineer, JPL, speaks to NASA TV a few minutes before Curiosity rover's scheduled landing.
Curiosity Rover press conference panelists at JPL in Pasadena, CA, August 5, 2012.
Peanuts are eaten as a good luck charm for NASA missions, in this case for Curiosity rover's landing on Mars, August 5, 2012.
NASA Associate Administrator John Grunsfeld speaks just a few minutes before Curiosity rover's scheduled landing, August 5, 2012.
Adam Steltzner, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory entry, descent and landing phase lead, demonstrates models of the Curiosity rover and the sky crane on NASA TV, August 5, 2012, just prior to the landing of Curiosity.
Peter Theisinger, Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project Manager, shows the relative sizes of the Curiosity rover wheel (right), Spirit/Opportunity wheel (medium sized), and Sojourner wheel (smallest), August 5, 2012.
4 minutes to cruise stage separation as shown in a computer simulation. August 5, 2012.
Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator, is interviewed on August 5, 2012, prior to the landing of Curiosity rover.
JPL Visualization Producer Doug Ellison demonstrates a new iPad app that makes Curiosity rover appear virtually in front of the viewer, August 5, 2012.
Prior to the landing of Mars Science Laboratory, Clara Ma talks about her experiences after her name for the MSL rover, Curiosity, was selected by NASA.
Entertainer will.i.am talks about his science outreach programs as Curosity rover is about to land, August 5, 2012.
NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin talks about the significance of the Mars Science Laboratory prior to its landing, August 5, 2012.
Live shot of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission Support Area at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA., 11:03 pm EDT on Sunday, August 5, 2012.
Sky Crane in aerial ballet mode during the descent of NASA’s Curiosity rover to the Martian surface.
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team members talk in the MSL Mission Support Area at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ahead of the planned landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Pasadena, Calif.
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Flight Systems Chief Engineer Rob Manning, left, smiles as he watches MSL Flight Director Keith Comeaux move the final marble from a jar marked "Days Until Entry" to the jar marked "Days Since Launch" at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Pasadena, Calif.
Musician Will.i.am, center, listens to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Sciences and Exploration Directorate Chief Scientist Jim Garvin talk next to a mock up of the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity as Astronaut and NASA's Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin looks on at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) a few hours ahead of the the planned landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Pasadena, Calif.
