Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror

"Team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory share the challenges of the Curiosity Mars rover's final minutes to landing on the surface of Mars." (JPL youtube page)

Here is an image of the landing operation (credit: JPL/NASA):



Follow the Curiosity Mars Rover landing here (LIVE). 
Aug 5, 2012     10:31 p.m.   Pacific
Aug 6, 2012     1:31 a.m.   Eastern
Aug 6, 2012     5:31 a.m.   Universal

Credit: JPL/NASA

The science instruments in this rover are tools for acquiring information about the geology, atmosphere, environmental conditions, and potential biosignatures on Mars. 

The instruments that carry Mars Science Laboratory are:

• Cameras
• Spectrometers
• Radiation Detectors
• Environmental Sensors
• Atmospheric Sensors

font JPL/NASA website