Photo: Joel Kowsky · Public domain (US government)
Mission
Robotic Exploration · Mars
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, featuring the renowned Curiosity rover, was designed to assess the planet's past and present habitability. Equipped with an array of advanced scientific instruments, including a drill and a sample analysis unit, Curiosity explored the Gale Crater, a site…
What it put in orbit
| Object | Type | Orbit | Globe |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSL 2011-070A | Payload | re-entered 2012-08-06 | |
| ATLAS 5 CENTAUR R/B 2011-070B | Rocket body | orbits the Sun |
COSPAR ID 2011-070 (data from GCAT, J. McDowell, CC BY 4.0). Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).
Where to watch
Replay Launch webcastIn the news
- NASA’s Curiosity Looks Back After Reaching Elevation Milestone NASA,
- NASA’s Curiosity Captures Dawn Breaking on Wind-Carved Cliffs NASA,
- NASA’s Curiosity Rover Catches Stunning Martian Dawn NASA,
- Curiosity Blog, Sols 5029-5035: Back in the Lab NASA,
- Curiosity Blog, Sols 5022-5028: Cashing in at Cache Creek NASA,
Headlines via the Spaceflight News API.