Curiosity...

[petermcleland]

If you scroll down to the video in this article it looks excellent in Full Screen Mode...the landing is scheduled for August 3rd this year...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18401248

[Airspeed]

Well found Peter!
Let's hope it goes according to plan.
The BBC presentations How to grow a planet, and The making of us have just finished over here.
I hold hope for us as a race.

[FlyTexas]

If NASA can pull this one off I'll be truly amazed. Looks sort of like a 'Rube Goldberg' way to land a rover. Best of luck to 'em!

Brian

[speedbird591]

Rube Goldberg? If he's the US equivalent of Heath Robinson then I agree with you, Brian. Why not just parachute it down?

If NASA do want my advice, I'd like to point out that there is no air in Space. That means no sound, which seems to have escaped their attention on the video!

I mean, it's not rocket science, is it? Oh, wait...

Ian

[FlyTexas]

Rube Goldberg? If he's the US equivalent of Heath Robinson...

Yes he is. I think NASA has been watching too many 'Star Wars' movies, Ian.

Brian

[Vancouver]

Oh ye of little faith. Though they do seem to have overcomplicated the landing issue somewhat.

[nigelb]

If NASA do want my advice, I'd like to point out that there is no air in Space. That means no sound, which seems to have escaped their attention on the video!

I mean, it's not rocket science, is it? Oh, wait...

Ian

Yes, no air in space but Mars does have an atmosphere so presumably you could hear sound once the vessel is fairly close to the planet.

Nigel²

[FlyTexas]

"In space, no one can hear you scream." – Alien

Brian

[Airspeed]

Yes,
I thought about the sound too.
Decided not to be too picky, it's a bit like railway crossing signs showing non existent steam trains. If they pictured a modern loco, we wouldn't recognise it.

[petermcleland]

Because of the thin atmosphere on Mars, parachutes are not reliable enough to ensure a successful landing...hence the rockets for the last part...It is a really expensive egg to break in the final moments of its arrival