Mars Science Laboratory arrived at its destination tonight at 10:31 Pacific Time. The MSL team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's control center in Pasadena was ecstatic, with the mission control room flooded with jubilant pandemonium. According to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, who was there along with Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and Presidential Science Advisor John Holdren, "Everybody in the morning should be sticking their chests out saying, 'That's MY Curiosity rover on Mars!'" The rover is checking out in perfect shape so far, and soon the science will begin.
Progress reports rolled in last night at the rate of about one per minute. Each time a milestone in the intricate system was transmitted home, the team clapped and broke out in spontaneous laughter.
Some events in the control room as they arrived (14 minutes after they actually took place on Mars):
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from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com
