Sunday 17 February 2013

Mars Rover, California Institute of Technology

The Curiosity Rover, currently exploring the surface of Mars, is a car sized vehicle launched by NASA on 26th Nov 2011. After a more than 8 month journey it touched down on 6th Aug 2012 and began its mission of investigating the climate, geology and water reserves of Mars, as well as the possibility it could have ever supported life. 
The rover is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that uses the decay of radioactive isotopes to generate electricity and heat. 
For a look at the rover's hair-raising approach and landing on Mars check out this video from NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=146903741


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