Curiosity's Entry Descent and Landing on Mars

Explore the groundbreaking Mars Science Laboratory mission in this GOTO Chicago 2015 conference talk by NASA Jet Propulsion Lab's Anita Sengupta. Delve into the intricate details of Curiosity rover's entry, descent, and landing on the Red Planet. Learn about the mission objectives, rover capabilities, and the engineering challenges overcome to successfully land a 2000 lb robotic geologist on Mars. Discover the process of landing site selection, the role of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the innovative technologies employed, including supersonic parachutes and high-speed imaging. Gain insights into Curiosity's scientific instruments like ChemCam and SAM, and understand their significance in exploring Mars' geology and potential for past life. Examine the rover's discoveries, including evidence of ancient riverbeds, and contemplate the implications for future human exploration of Mars.