Mars Science Laboratory: The Mission


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The Mission Summary

ROVER UPDATE:

Artists concept of the rover. ROVER UPDATE

Find out the latest information on the rover

MISSION TEAM:

People working in a clean room. MISSION TEAM

The people who are making this mission possible

LAUNCH VEHICLE, SPACECRAFT, ROVER, & INSTRUMENTS:

artists concept of a launch vehicle LAUNCH VEHICLE

The rocket that will propel the spacecraft on its way to Mars

Diagram of the spacecraft SPACECRAFT

The structure that will carry the rover to Mars

Artists concept of a rover ROVER

The robotic geologist that will explore the surface of Mars

A link to the spacecraft instruments INSTRUMENTS

The various instruments

MISSION TIMELINE:


	PRE-LAUNCH ACTIVITIES
	Preparation for the mission, including landing site selection, assembly and testing, and delivery to Cape Canaveral

	LAUNCH
	Liftoff from Earth

	CRUISE
	Voyage through space

	APPROACH
	Nearing the Red Planet

	ENTRY, DESCENT, & LANDING
	Journey through the martian atmosphere to the surface

	SURFACE OPERATIONS
	Learning about Mars through the day-to-day activities of the rover

COMMUNICATIONS WITH EARTH:


	COMMUNICATIONS WITH EARTH
	Talking with the rover through the antennas of the Deep Space Network