The Mars rover Curiosity undergoes a final round of checks before making its first lengthy drive across the surface of the Red Planet.
Curiosity Ready to Roll
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The Mars Curiosity rover's robotic arm takes aim at Mount Sharp in a mosaic that combines navigation-camera imagery. The shadow of the rover's camera mast is visible in the center foreground.
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In a stop motion frame, the heat shield falls away during Curiosity's descent to the surface of Mars.