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More than just a scientific mission, Mars rover Curiosity’s final, frightening descent stirred up plenty of emotions, from both the engineers who piloted it and from spectators around the world. We all held our breath as the rover went through the “seven minutes of terror” that was the landing–and then celebrated when news came of a successful finale. It was beautiful, and we’ve collected some of the best reactions to its descent, as well as some of the early pictures Curiosity sent back to Earth.

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NASA operations manager Jim McClure gives a tour of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Control Center "Dark Room" before the Mars rover's landing.

The “Dark Room”

NASA operations manager Jim McClure gives a tour of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Control Center “Dark Room” before the Mars rover’s landing.
On the day of the rover's landing, NASA scientists move the final marble from a jar marked "Days Until Entry" to another jar marked "Days Since Launch."

Countdown

On the day of the rover’s landing, NASA scientists move the final marble from a jar marked “Days Until Entry” to another jar marked “Days Since Launch.”
At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, team leaders handed out jars of peanuts with labels reading "Dare Mighty Things" to scientists at the rover operations center and Mission Control. The peanuts are a superstitious game-day tradition that dates back to the Ranger missions of the 1960's.

Lucky Peanuts

At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, team leaders handed out jars of peanuts with labels reading “Dare Mighty Things” to scientists at the rover operations center and Mission Control. The peanuts are a superstitious game-day tradition that dates back to the Ranger missions of the 1960’s.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden waits as Curiosity descends to the surface of Mars, a moment known as the <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-06/video-curiosity-mars-rovers-landing-seven-minutes-terror/">"seven minutes of terror."</a>

Eyes Shut

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden waits as Curiosity descends to the surface of Mars, a moment known as the “seven minutes of terror.”
Steve Collins waits as Curiosity makes its harrowing final descent.

Through the “Seven Minutes of Terror”

Steve Collins waits as Curiosity makes its harrowing final descent.
As part of the landing festivities, a live broadcast was <a href="https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/i-went-times-square-watch-curiositys-mars-landing-53-foot-screen/">played for spectators</a> in Times Square.

Times Square

As part of the landing festivities, a live broadcast was played for spectators in Times Square.
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team celebrates in the MSL Mission Support Area.

After News of the Landing

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team celebrates in the MSL Mission Support Area.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena celebrate.

NASA Celebration

Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena celebrate.
Moments before <em>Curiosity</em> landed, the HiRISE instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this image of the spacecraft sailing on its chute toward the Martian surface.

Final Descent

Moments before Curiosity landed, the HiRISE instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this image of the spacecraft sailing on its chute toward the Martian surface.
The photo on the left shows an early image of Mars from the rover's hazard-avoidance camera. On the right, the same image was taken after the camera's dust cover was removed. In the background is Mount Sharp--the rover's final destination.

Before and After

The photo on the left shows an early image of Mars from the rover’s hazard-avoidance camera. On the right, the same image was taken after the camera’s dust cover was removed. In the background is Mount Sharp–the rover’s final destination.
Not long after the first black-and-white photos were beamed back to Earth, Mars rover Curiosity sent this, the <a href="https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/first-color-image-mars-beamed-back-earth-curiosity-rover/">first color image</a> of the dusty Red Planet, back home. It was taken with Curiosity's Mars Hand Lens Imager, an instrument usually reserved for close-ups but that can be focused on landmarks a long distance away.

First Color Image

Not long after the first black-and-white photos were beamed back to Earth, Mars rover Curiosity sent this, the first color image of the dusty Red Planet, back home. It was taken with Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager, an instrument usually reserved for close-ups but that can be focused on landmarks a long distance away.
This <a href="https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/aerial-photo-shows-aftermath-mars-rover-curiositys-landing/">aerial photo</a> shows what happened to the mechanical parts of the rover as it made its thrilling landing on the Red Planet. Taken 185 miles up by the Mars Reconnoissance Orbiter, it shows that the rover's <a href="https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/why-mars-rover-curiositys-crazy-complicated-landing-isnt-so-crazy-after-all/">sky crane</a> landed landed about 650 meters away from Curiosity and that its heat shield ended up a full 1,200 meters away.

The Landing’s Aftermath

This aerial photo shows what happened to the mechanical parts of the rover as it made its thrilling landing on the Red Planet. Taken 185 miles up by the Mars Reconnoissance Orbiter, it shows that the rover’s sky crane landed landed about 650 meters away from Curiosity and that its heat shield ended up a full 1,200 meters away.
<em>Curiosity</em> took its first hi-resolution self-portrait on August 7, two days after touchdown.

Self Portrait

Curiosity took its first hi-resolution self-portrait on August 7, two days after touchdown.
A 360-degree view of <em>Curiosity's</em> new home in Gale Crater. The two sets of dark, grey-ish spots in the left and right foreground were formed by blasts from the descent stage's rocket during landing.

New Digs

A 360-degree view of Curiosity’s new home in Gale Crater. The two sets of dark, grey-ish spots in the left and right foreground were formed by blasts from the descent stage’s rocket during landing.