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Mars Science Lab
Curiosity Mission to Mars
Mars Science Laboratory:
Goals: Curiosity, formerly known as Mars Science Laboratory, is an unmanned robotic rover designed to land on Mars and assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. Its mission is to determine the planet's habitability. The rover, about the size of a small sport-utility vehicle, will carry an advanced suite of instruments to study Martian terrain and soil.

Accomplishments: This mission is in development.

Read More About Mars Science Laboratory

Visit the Mars Science Laboratory Website

Key Dates Headlines
Oct 2011: 
Launch
Status: 
In Development
Fast Facts Links
Mars Science Lab Facts Clara Ma (right), a 6th grader from Lenexa, Kan., suggested the name Curiousity for the rover.

Curiosity is almost the size of a small sport-utility vehicle. It is about 2.8 meters (9 feet long) and four times as heavy as NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers. Spirit and Opportunity.

The first Mars rover, Sojourner, was about as big as a microwave oven.
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