The Technology Behind NASA's 'Curiosity' Landing

NASA's one-ton mobile rover, called Curiosity, is expected to touch down on the Red Planet in early August for a two-year exploration of the Gale Crater near the Martian equator. WSJ visits the Mars Science Laboratory, where scientists describe Curiosity's complicated technology and the mission's challenges. Photo: AP.

More from the Wall Street Journal:

[sterlingteaches]

The process to design something like this has to be an amazing undertaking. Interesting video. Glad it landed ok.

[KeanosMagicHat]

Congratulations NASA on a superb technical achievement. Also thanks WSJ for a really informative video

[EVEPhoenixRegime]

Ever notice how almost any video ends with people talking of things that have nothing to do with the actual video. Long story short, proper time and place.

[brwneyesaz]

Awesome achievement. This is one of the most magnificent event in history. Thanks NASA and your entire crew of scientist. Rock-on!

[garyoptica]

Truly outstanding problem solving, engineering and deployment, well done nasa teams.

[xuimod]

Wow, amazing work NASA. Great job pulling off such a complex landing.

[xuimod]

Btw, great instructional video Wall Street Journal.

[mannyjl]

If anyone could tell me how this rover mission is different then the previous ones a few years back, I would be most grateful! :D

[JulianKossmann]

anyone else wondering where the descent stage flies off to, after the rover cuts it away?

[LLamuh_]

Yeah but what about that Prothean technology that jumped us forward over 500 years and helped us discover the Mass Relays? It's very special

[PeppoMusic]

There was some footage of the actual rover...and all the tests had already been done (and simulations), but only of seperate parts. It is indeed a shame that these were not recorded, but they probably wouldn't look at all exciting to most people compared to a full animation of the 'real thing' since it wouldn't look like much, graphically. Also, it'd take too much time since there's so many parts involved.

[PeppoMusic]

We will know for sure in a few days. Exciting isn't it?

[ShripadDeshpande]

Does mars have an atmosphere? how does the parachute work?

[WARFARENINJA]

Look's much like the UNSC Pelican dropping an Warhog. Halo is getting real

[WherAmazingHappens]

Oh but I've been there... fighting some Cerberus troops nothing special.

[HiddenCuban]

i wonder who took the time to make these animations

[ashif]

i suppose NASA will discover something on Mars that tells them Pluto's moon is really a mass relay

[VekCal]

Imagine all the uses that there could be for sky-cranes!!!

[Archy]

imo the thing that will probably cause the mission to fail is that jet-crane that holds the curiosity robot. cables? rocket engines? lots of things can go wrong. why didnt they put curiosity on top of that crane, make it like a plate instead of having cables beneath it - they can snap, they can get entangled, whole crane can flip... i hope that the mission is success but really this landing approach is way too risky if you ask me.

[SwuaveWEB]

Yeah... I don't even think he was remotely implying that it would land in his back yard or anyone elses.