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Curiosity Survives Nail-Biting Descent To Mars' Surface
NASA's latest, greatest Mars rover Curiosity survived 7 suspenseful minutes of terror through the atmosphere of Mars and landed safely and soundly on the planet's surface. Phew.
And then like any self-respecting Angeleno on a trip to a faraway land, it started snapping photos the second it landed and tweeted them out. Curiosity announced itself this way on Twitter:
I'm safely on the surface of Mars. GALE CRATER I AM IN YOU!!! #MSL
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 6, 2012
We've included the first of many photos from where Curiosity landed.
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Credit goes to the hard-working members of the MSL team who spent a decade on the project and then superstitiously grew mutton chops, carried around lucky trinkets and styled this amazing mohawk just in case the hard work wasn't enough to ensure Curiosity's safety.
There's still a press conference going on through the USTREAM with lots of puns referencing the rover's name (example: "Our Curiosity knows no limits"), national pride and sometimes both ("Long live, American Curiosity!"):
Streaming live video by Ustream
Related:
'Curiosity' Jets Off to Rove the Red Planet in Search of Little Green Men Conditions for Life
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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