HiRISE Spots Curiosity

As if surviving the Seven Minutes of Terror wasn't accomplishment enough...

NASA's HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) snapped a picture - from orbit - as Curiosity descended by parachute to the surface of Mars.  Of course, it's not even the first time HiRISE has clicked the shutter on another NASA Mars probe.  In 2008 it captured an image of the Phoenix lander as it arrived for its stay near the Martian north pole.

Amazing stuff, and we could all use a little amazing these days.

Curiosity Has Landed

It's 12:31 am and the MLS has "wheels on Mars."

Images from the hazard cams are on the flat screens at JPL.  Great job, NASA!  Woo hoo!  Awesome, just awesome!  Bedtime...

UPDATE: NASA is reporting that the tri-lobed smudge visible on the horizon is the dust plume created as the discarded Sky Crane crashes to the surface 2000 feet away from the MSL!