Mars Science Laboratory

Our How Things Work feature for November 2011 focuses on the landing of the Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory in August 2012. But that will be just the start of this most ambitious Mars mission yet, which is due to launch from Cape Canaveral on November 25. In this animation from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we see Curiositys journey from Earth, the dramatic descent to the surface, and glimpses of the kinds of science investigations the car-size rover will conduct during its multi-year stay on Mars.Video: JPL