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Curiosity Rover and Parachute Spotted by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

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If you thought this morning’s landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars was stunning, then just check out this image captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) as it glided toward the planet’s surface.

The larger white object is the lander’s parachute, which opened as the lander was still moving at supersonic speeds and is the largest ever to be used outside the Earth/Moon system. The smaller object is the actual rover, which was approximately one minute from touching down on the surface when the image was taken by the MRO’s $40 million, 143 lb (65kg) HiRISE camera, according to NASA.

The MRO and its HiRISE have taken some truly stunning photographs before, but this latest shot might just take top prize. For more on the MRO, check out the following link.

Weekend Image: Strange Lava Coils on Mars

The post Curiosity Rover and Parachute Spotted by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter appeared first on The Conference Channel Blog.


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