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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Curiosity: Notes from the two day-after-landing press briefings
Notes on Curiosity's physical state, future activities, landing site, and other stuff gleaned from the two press briefings conducted at JPL today.
First look at Curiosity MARDI's descent animation (WOW WOW)
Even a preliminary, low-resolution, low-frame-rate version of Curiosity's descent imager animation of the arrival on Mars contains almost more awesome than I can stand.
Curiosity: Landing minus 11 hours
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.
Where I will be watching Curiosity's landing
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 two days
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.
Mars24 has been upgraded for Curiosity
Robert Schmunk has released a new version of the Mars24 application to help us tell time at Curiosity's landing site.
What's up in the Solar System in August 2012
Welcome to the monthly roundup of our solar system's envoy of electronic explorers! All eyes are on Curiosity as it approaches Mars this weekend. Who will lend support at the Red Planet?
Video: This is not the droid you're looking for
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?
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)
JPL has published a schedule for press briefings in the first week of Curiosity's mission on Mars.
Celebrate Curiosity with a “Party on Mars!” Saturday night!
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!
When will we see Curiosity's first images?
Enough people have asked me when we'll see Curiosity's first images from the surface of Mars that I sought out an answer. The short version: it depends.
Curiosity's seventeenth camera: MARDI
Curiosity is equipped with seventeen cameras. One of them, the Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) will capture a movie as the rover descends to the surface.
Got questions about Curiosity? I've got answers for you
Whether you are a scientist or a layman, if you have ever asked yourself any question about Curiosity, I strongly suggest that you read the newly published press kit!
A plea to Mars Science Laboratory team members: write your experiences down
In which I beg the people working on Curiosity to write about what happens in the coming weeks, even if you never share those writings publicly.
How Curiosity Will Land on Mars, Part 3: Skycrane and Landing
The final phase of Curiosity's landing on Mars involves the
How Curiosity Will Land on Mars, Part 2: Descent
When people first hear about how Curiosity will land on Mars, their first question always is: are they nuts? This is the second in a multi-part series describing how -- and why -- Curiosity will land this way, in excruciating detail.
How Curiosity Will Land on Mars, Part 1: Entry
When people first hear about how Curiosity will land on Mars, their first question always is: are they nuts? This is the first in a multi-part series describing how -- and why -- Curiosity will land this way, in excruciating detail.
Cosmoquest Science Hangout Wednesday June 20 2300 UTC: Ravi Prakash, Curiosity engineer
This Cosmoquest Science Hangout featured Ravi Prakash, Curiosity Entry, Descent, and Landing Systems Engineer. He explained how Curiosity will land on Mars, and why they've changed things since Spirit and Opportunity landed.
Curiosity's shrinking landing ellipse
There was good news and bad news in this morning's press briefing about Curiosity rover's upcoming landing on Mars, just eight weeks from now. First, the good news: the landing ellipse has shrunk. The bad news: there's a contamination problem with the drill, and the Odyssey orbiter is in safe mode.