NASA Science News for Nov. 26, 2011
NASA's biggest and most capable Mars rover ever left Earth this morning in a picture perfect launch from Cape Canaveral. The new rover, named "Curiosity", is due to reach the Red Planet in August 2012.
FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26nov_msllaunch/
To learn more about Curiosity's landing site on Mars, check out the video "The Strange Attraction of Gale Crater": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqeftciRFA
I watched the takeoff live last night on NASA TV. Great, just like cracker night only bigger, "light blue touch paper and stand clear". :boom:
The telemetry animation after it lost visual contact was unusual, you could see the steering thrusters firing to keep it on course.