NASA's Curiosity Mars landing successful, first pictures trickling in (video)

posted Aug 6th 2012 2:45AM

NASA's Curiosity Mars landing successful, first pictures trickling in

After "seven minutes of terror" involving guided entry, parachute and powered descent, and even a sky crane, NASA's Curiosity rover has successfully touched down on the surface of Mars. Better yet, the 2,000lbs (900kg) science lab has established communications with Earth and is sending back telemetry along with the first pictures of Gale crater. These initial grayscale images are only 256 x 256 pixels in size but show Curiosity's shadow on the Martian soil. Peek at our galley below and stay tuned for updates.
Update: Hit the break to check out a video of all the "seven minutes of terror" highlights.

NASA's Curiosity first pictures of Mars

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crowflight 2 days ago

FOREVER THE MARS PROJECTS MUST GO ON.....BAYAREA IS GROUND CENTRAL, ITS A GO.

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magnus78 6 days ago

If I lived in the US, I would be more than happy to support this project through tax money.

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The_Boneman 1 week ago

Does anyone know if the Curiosity Rover displays a US Flag or Emblem anywhere on the vehicle? Is there any type of time capsule on board?

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+ 3

Antonio Thronn Passos Jr 1 week ago

iluv this guys, thanks.

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Henry Hung 1 week ago

Does air exist at Mars? If no, then how come the parachute can open and slow the landing?
Edit: What I meant is the picture at 1 minute mark that depict parachute opening.

(Edited by author 1 week ago)

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radarskiy 1 week ago in reply to Henry Hung

There is a thin atmosphere, and they did use an parachute for part of the slowdown. However, a parachute large enough to completely slow it down runs the risk of just dropping on top of the probe once it's down.

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Hminus 1 week ago

Wow, I have never seen people so genuinely going nuts over pictures of dust and wheels before. Believe me, it's really cool to see the picture of Mars, but man, seeing the video, I had the same experience as when I first visited a charismatic church - I wanted to turn away and run! It's like a religious cult in that room. This is cool, but dust is dust no matter where it is in our solar system and these guys comment on this like they'd received news that their kid just walked out of a plane crash. Picture made my mind go into imagination overload. Video made me sad for the human race.

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+ 5

magnus78 6 days ago in reply to Hminus

It's not just dust. It's MARTIAN dust!
Maybe you should stick to watching the Olympics instead?

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ExtraCreditOptimist 6 days ago in reply to Hminus

This mission has tremendous implications--obviously more than you can
comprehend. Many things we use today originated with our space
program. I am very sad for you and the throngs of other ignorant people
who see nothing beyond the surface. Perhaps you should turn off the TV and read a BOOK or
educate yourself on the scientific and medical ramifications and hope this might present for our future.

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ExtraCreditOptimist 6 days ago in reply to Hminus

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ExtraCreditOptimist 6 days ago in reply to Hminus

This mission has tremendous implications--obviously more than you can comprehend. Many things we use today originated with our space program. I am very sad for you and the throngs of other ignorant people who see nothing beyond the surface. Perhaps you should turn off the TV and read a BOOK or
educate yourself on the scientific and medical ramifications and hope this might present for our future.

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rssmd 1 week ago in reply to Hminus

True, this may seem insignificant compared to finding a cure for cancer or the formula for world peace. But try to put it in context... many of these people have spent the past decade of their lives working tirelessly on this project. Devoting every waking hour to making this mission a success. Planetary exploration may be their primary reason for existence. This accomplishment enriches all of us as a species, and hopefully inspires us to pursue ever more lofty goals. It might very well prove true that we must look to the heavens to find the answers to our earthly travails.
I feel certain that the JPL scientists were genuinely (and understandably) ecstatic over this accomplishment. My pride in humanity is restored for at least this moment.

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Doris Aisa-Zuniga 1 week ago in reply to Hminus

Dust and Wheels for you !! Obviously you do not understand the significance of this moment in time. You lack the science knowledge to grasp the purpose behind this enterprise.
I am Very sad for you .

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Giuseppe Leone 1 week ago in reply to Hminus

because im sure you worked so hard for nearly 10 years on a project that could have ended in a fireball in under 10 seconds .ill bet you don't have the attention span of a mosquito let alone understand why these people are happy.

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MasonJar2012 1 week ago in reply to Hminus

It's clear you don't understand the difficulty in what was achieved.
Putting probes on Mars has been exceedingly difficult. Depending on who you ask, the success rate is said to be between 30 and 40%.
I won't say this is the greatest achievement of human history, but it certainly wasn't a trivial exercise.

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Hminus 1 week ago in reply to MasonJar2012

You are wrong. I do understand. While I might not be a scientist, I've endured many exceedingly difficult things in my life where percentages are nothing but moot.
What was achieved required many, many well educated minds and people with great skills, compared to other humans. No where in my comment does it suggest this was a simple task. In fact, I found it rather interesting and amazing what was achieved. But let's not forget that the most brilliant human is still a human and subject to all sorts of human foilbles. Overreacting to discovery of dust on lenses and pictures of wheels is quite ridiculous in this day and age. I totally expected people to get excited about this, but the manner with which they got excited was over the top in my opinion.
30%-40% success rates for landing a rover on Mars is interesting and even intriguing, but I'll reserve my tears of joys and whoops to some god for when the 6 remaining children out of 7, in a town of 5,000, beat and survive their fights with cancer. Not one single one of those people in that control room will even blink an eye when my daughter is declared cured in 3 years. I understand perfectly well how exceedingly difficult some discoveries and accomplishments can be. At the end of my life, I will reflect back on the relationships I've had, not that a fancy vehicle landed on Mars. One is cool and worthy of attention. The other is what life is all about and the one that is truly worthy of raising arms and cheering like a life depended on it.
Some things transcend mankind and inspire us all. The joys are genuine, pure and true. I got the sense that these guys knew they were being watched and showboating really ridiculous things because that's what they've learned from the movies. It was truly silly.

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MasonJar2012 1 week ago in reply to Hminus

No you don't. You're an idiot who doesn't understand the value of hard work.
Try doing something useful in life. Trolling your ignorance doesn't count.

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Роел Аберин 1 week ago

See how we can explore far greater things for our ''neighboring planet/s
of some sort" - Best move for those who are in power instead of
building missiles, nuclear weapons that ripped off mankind. This is
totally superb!

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Роел Аберин 1 week ago

See how we can explore far greater things for our ''neighboring planet/s of some sort" - Best move for those who are in power instead of building missiles, nuclear weapons that ripped off mankind. This is totally superb!

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Doris Aisa-Zuniga 1 week ago

THis should be the new focus of mankind. Let's explore new possibilities beyond our limitations instead of killing each other for ideologies that do not make sense. These scientists are the real heroes!!!!

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Robert Couture 1 week ago

Awesome For Man Kind, JUST AWESOME> what else can be said, Thanks to all the people behind this event..

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Robert Couture 1 week ago

Awesome for Man Kind, keep the search going , Just AWESOME!!!!!!!

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Stuart Gibbs 1 week ago

So, So Cool

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Terry Brittain 1 week ago

Just in time to allow the richest on the planet to try and escape from what is coming on this earth, but they wont.

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A-Ron 1 week ago

This is one of the best things I've ever seen. That's just pure joy on these scientist's faces. +1000000 points for NASA

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inky69 1 week ago

I'm a bit too young to remember the moon landing. I watched this live on NASA TV in high def at 1:am till 3 am in Canada. It was fucking amazing! A triumph for America and NASA. The only downfall is I am hungover and tired at the moment.

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The_Boneman 1 week ago

Horace Mann once said: "be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity".....Well I guess everyone involved in this mission is off the hook for that one! I am blown away by this stunning achievement! Congratulations to all of you that worked so hard for all of mankind!

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Nassoro Mwamba 1 week ago

it is amazing Era compare with Dark stage which was ful of shadow in eyes of people

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Nassoro Mwamba 1 week ago

curiosity mission,curiosity landing...this put the world in high scientific Era

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fon 1 week ago

Yeah, this is an achievement to learn a Mars again.
But at the same time it's very shy attempt, considering the size of this mission (just a probe) and that humanity lost the drive to learn the outerspace. Economical crisis and political reasons closed many good space programs - including the destruction of the USSR's first and the only automatic space shuttle which was working by autopilot (including landing) but it was destroyed because Russia don't needed it, the USA was afraid that such advanced technology can be stolen by chinese again (that scandal with space suits). So today we're more primitive in space exploration even when we was in 1990's - only trying to make today what was made 20 years ago(i mean the attempts to build the commercial shuttle today).

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sonybru 1 week ago

It's amazing how well flash works in the mobile browser for NASA's website. It's flawless.

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Roberto V 1 week ago

Awesome.

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NelPit 1 week ago

Will they have some videos of the entry/landing? Those would be amazing to see!

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Nilithius 1 week ago in reply to NelPit

It will take awhile for the camera crews on Mars to bring us the video.

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Joseph Lee 1 week ago in reply to NelPit

the only view available will be from the orbiter

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BitNinja: Rogue Apple Tech 1 week ago

Nerds.

(Edited by author 1 week ago)

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fireman09 1 week ago in reply to BitNinja: Rogue Apple Tech

Yep they are but who else can they sent a rocket and rover to mars?

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Nilithius 1 week ago in reply to BitNinja: Rogue Apple Tech

Yep. And they have contributed more to history than you ever will.

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Bill Buck 1 week ago

this is super...CONGRATS....AND REACH BEYOND !!!

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John P. McDonough 1 week ago

Check Out the Guys Name in the Back Row at 2:53 to 2:59....

(Edited by author 1 week ago)

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Mubashir Raza Ali 1 week ago in reply to John P. McDonough

weldone :)

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RoC1909 1 week ago

Congratulations guys!

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Etienne Desees 1 week ago

Born in 1946, as an European, and having had the opportunity to follow the prior steps of space discovery, I still admire the teams and their motivation that transformed dreams to reality, whatever the country they came from.
Congratulations.

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Kalimullah Khan 1 week ago

wow that is a great achievement....2.5 billion is nothing before this achievement .....a single photo that will be sent on Earth is worthy more than that. This is future vision and there is nothing negative about this. These scientists are standing on behalf of humanity and their work is appreciable.

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G0d5hand 1 week ago

why the hell is this black and white photos? the thing is nuclear powered so why no decent camera?

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Adam Hart 1 week ago in reply to G0d5hand

Curiosity has 17(!) cameras. The images taken so far were taken by the hazard cams it uses for autonomous hazard avoidance. The only reason it even transmitted pictures this morning was to prove the damn thing still works.
The MastCam can take 1600x1200 true color images and shoot 720p video. Better pictures are coming.

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G0d5hand 1 week ago in reply to G0d5hand

serious though, like way to feed the conspiracy trolls. the is crazy cameras on this site every day and these pictures are like the same from the 1960's

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Cisco2K 1 week ago in reply to G0d5hand

its all out of the apple hand book, im sure in six months there will be an upgrade model mars os 2.1 lol

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kevinlschuman 1 week ago

everybody knows that space travel is impossible. These guys are just trying to keep their stupid jobs. they try to make us feel like we can travel the universe when we can't even get to mars. Ha

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