NASA’s Curiosity lands safely, sends photos from Mars

The Curiosity rover landed safely on Mars early Monday morning. The rover will spend two years exploring the red planet looking for signs of life. Today, Warren talked to JPL’s Allen Chen and Discovery News’ Ian O’Neill about the excitement at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the safe landing.

Here’s more from The New York Times:

As the drama of the landing unfolded, each step proceeded without flaw. The capsule entered the atmosphere at the appointed time, with thrusters guiding it toward the crater. The parachute deployed. Then the rover and rocket stage dropped away from the parachute and began a powered descent toward the surface, and the sky crane maneuver worked as designed.

“Touchdown confirmed,” Allen Chen, an engineer in the control room, said at 1:32 a.m. Eastern time, followed by cheers, hugs and high-fives.

Here’s video from JPL as the rover touched down.

more photos.