Photo: Panorama of Mars rover components


BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: August 15, 2011


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The Mars Science Laboratory, NASA's next rover destined for the planet Mars, has completed functional testing inside a pristine clean room at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Next up for the $2.5 billion mission is the assembly of its major components, including the six-wheeled Curiosity rover, a high-tech descent and landing stage, and a robust heat shield and aerodynamic shell to shepherd the craft through the Martian atmosphere.

Liftoff aboard an Atlas 5 rocket is scheduled for Nov. 25. Touchdown on Mars will occur in August 2012.

This panorama shows the clean room floor inside KSC's payload hazardous servicing facility, where the rover, descent stage and backshell are being prepared for launch. The craft's heat shield is in the room next door.

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now


Click here for a high-resolution panorama of the clean room floor with parts of the Mars Science Laboratory, including the Curiosity rover, the descent stage and backshell.
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 
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