NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built, is bound for the Red Planet this August. Watch an animation of the craft as it speeds into martian orbit at 25,000 mph, uses atmospheric friction to slow itself down to 300 mph, and settles into its final orbit less than 200 miles from the planet's surface.
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Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?