On November 26, 2011, an Atlas V rocket shot out of our atmosphere with a
payload destined for Mars, in a mission known as the Mars Science
Laboratory (MSL). Riding inside the craft like a giant robot astronaut
is Curiosity, the fourth Mars rover to visit the red planet since 1997.
Curiosity is currently around 73,000,000 km out from Earth and slated
for landing on August 6th, 2012. The rover is already living up to its
name: conducting experiments en route.
When radiation from an X-class solar storm hit the MSL in January,
Curiosity’s Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) measured radiation
levels inside the craft. These data will help in planning future manned
missions.
Experimentation will continue in the Martian atmosphere, where sensors
in the heat shield will test atmospheric pressure and heat levels upon
entry. Recovered data will allow scientists to calculate what kind of
craft living astronauts will need for safe entry.
Unlike previous rovers that were simply dropped into the atmosphere and
allowed to bounce to the surface surrounded by cushions, Curiosity,
weighing in around a ton, will have to rely on new technology to land.
This is a job for the “sky crane”, a revolutionary NASA development
using retro-thrusters to push against gravity. At about 60 feet from the
surface, the sky crane will lower the rover with cables and fly away
when Curiosity is safely aground.
