NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) with its large Curiosity rover will seek to determine whether the Red Planet was, or still is, habitable for microbial life. The Lockheed Martin-aeroshell is a blunt-nosed cone that encapsulates and protects Curiosity during its deep space cruise to Mars, and from the intense heat and friction that will be generated as the system descends through the Martian atmosphere.
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