Latest Images from Mars Curiosity Rover Just Released for Viewing

At the latest press conference today at 4:00pm pacific time, mission managers for the Mars Curiosity Rover released the most recent images for viewing. Among the new pictures from Mars are images taken from a camera mounted on the bottom of Curiosity during the descent.

In the first image, the heat shield which protected Curiosity during the descent into the Martian atmosphere can be seen falling away from the rover.



curiosity image of heat shield falling away during landing on mars

The next image shows the surface of Mars as dust is beginning to be kicked up by the descent engines of the Sky Crain portion of the landing craft. Curiosity is about 20 meters above the Martian surface in this image.

picture of dust on mars being kicked up by descent engines as curiosity lands

Looking forward from Curiosity, this high resolution image shows a clear view of Mount Sharp in the distance (about 6 KM away) as well as the shadow of the Curiosity rover itself.

mount sharp picture seen from front of curiosity rover

In this picture, taken from a rear facing camera on the Curiosity Rover, you can make out the rim of the Gale crater on Mars. Curiosity landed as planned within the floor of the crater.



nw-rim-gale-crater-from-curiosity-rover-image

In this image, the Curiosity Rover can be seen drifting toward the surface of Mars attached to the parachute which opened after penetrating the atmosphere, and before the sky crane descent engines fired.

view of curiosity lander floating down on parachute

About D Robert Curry

D Robert Curry - with over 2 decades of experience in the IT sector and an avid aviator, Mr. Curry covers all Science & Technology and Aviation realted news stories. drcurry@newstaar.com