August 6, 2012Reputable sourceWell documented
Curiosity's seven minutes of terror
On the timeline · around August 6, 2012 ·
What happened
The one-ton rover was lowered to Mars by a rocket-powered sky crane — a landing maneuver never attempted before.
Why it matters
Still exploring Gale Crater today, it found the chemical ingredients for ancient habitability.
Sources
- NASA Science. Mars Science Laboratory: Curiosity (mission page) · Reputable source