Great Convergence of Spacecraft around Mars

This artist's animation shows how orbiters over Mars will monitor the landing of NASA's Curiosity rover.

The animation starts with the path of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft capsule – which has the Curiosity rover tucked inside – speeding towards its Martian landing site in Gale Crater. Then, the paths of NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter become visible. Curiosity will be sending some basic radio-frequency tones straight back to Earth during its entry, descent and landing, on Aug. 5 PDT (Aug. 6 EDT). But sending more ...