MEDLI Will Aid in Understanding of Mars [HD]

Tomorrow November 26th is the big day where we'll wait and watch for the launch of Curiosity. Some will feel a squeeze in their hearts and a lump in their throat as we say "safe journey" and watch Curiosity on the Rocket Atlas V take for the sky and head towards Mars. Meanwhile the heat shield will play a significant role when Curiosity will enter the atmosphere of Mars sometimes in 8 months from now.
The MEDLI instrument package, contained in the heat shield of the Mars Science Laboratory, will help scientists and engineers improve their computer models and simulations, and provide data to help design the next generation of Mars exploration vehicles. Curiosity is scheduled to reach Mars in September of 2012. (NASA/MSFC)