「好奇號」今天下午一時31分登陸火星。

這顆紅色的星球，即將被揭曉有無生物跡象以及移民的可行性。

Curiosity, the largest and most advanced spacecraft ever sent to another planet, stuck its extraordinary landing Sunday night without a hitch and is poised to begin its pioneering two-year hunt for the building blocks of life — signs that Earth's creatures may not be alone in the universe.

The landing site was 154 million miles from home, enough distance that the spacecraft's elaborate landing sequence had to be automated. The Earth also "set" below the Mars horizon shortly before landing, making even delayed direct communication with mission control impossible — and confirmation of Curiosity's fate tricky.

(source: Los Angele's Times)

The crucial seven minutes starts when the spacecraft reaches the top of the Mars atmosphere, going about 23,000km/h, and ends when it lands.

It takes 15 minutes for radio signals to get from Earth to Mars, and another 15 minutes for signals to get back, so there is nothing anyone can do if something goes wrong. That is why it is so terrifying. The many thousands of scientists and engineers who have spent years of their lives working on the rover can only hold their breath, cross their fingers and hope for the best as their baby plummets towards Mars.

(source)

網路照片

(source:http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/)

 (source:http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/mars-rover-curiosity-nears-make-or-break-landing-attempt-251420)

website:http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21229716/curiosity-rover-make-mars-landing-sunday