Photo Gallery: NASA’s JPL successfully lands Curiosity rover on Mars
A proud lead team of John Grunsfield, Charles Elachi, Pete Theisinger, Richard Cook, Adam Steltzner and John Grotzinger, triumphantly raise their hands at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Miguel San Martin leads a long line of JPL scientists to high five with the mission leads at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
JPL scientist James McCuistion is hugged by a friend at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
The moment when the Mars Rover Curiosity landed as seen on the television monitor and Paula Apsell on the right at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Veronica McGregor, of JPL, fist pumps after the successful landing of the Mars Rover at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Renny Ma and Lisheng Cao clap as the Rover touches down on Mars at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Engineers high five each other on the television monitor in the media room as journalists await the news of a successful landing at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Stephanie Smith, with JPL, looks to the sky as the Rover successfully lands on Mars at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
JPL director Charles Elachi greets a long line of scientists at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Adam Steltzner, MSL entry, descent and landing phase lead, at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
MSL project scientist John Grotzinger enters like a rockstar into a sea of media at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Adam Steltzner, at right, the Mars Science Laboratory entry, descent and landing phase lead, high fives one of the scientists who were part of the mission at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Proud scientists Richard Cook and Adam Steltzner fist pump and call out at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Clara Ma, 15, who named the rover Curiosity, smiles as she turns to the crowd with JPL scientist Adam Steltzner applauding behind her at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
The proud group of lead scientists at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
A group of JPL scientist happily talk together at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
MSL project scientist John Grotzinger at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Adam Steltzner, MSL entry, descent and landing phase lead, points to one of the first images transmitted from the rover from the surface of Mars at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Lead JPL scientist Richard Cook high fives with a long stream of contributing scientists at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Jeopardy host Alex Trebek speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Actress June Lockhart speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Musician will.i.am speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Musician will.i.am speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
June Lockhart tours the Newsroom at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Astronaut Leland Melvin interviews muscian will.i.am at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Former JPL president Ed Stone greets friends at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Musician will.i.am speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Former JPL president Ed Stone greets friends at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Congresswoman Judy Chu arrives at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Musician will.i.am speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Congressman Adam Schiff laughs with congresswoman Grace Napolitano at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
Jeopardy host Alex Trebek speaks at a press conference at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the night when the Mars Rover Curiosity is expected to land on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
The moment after the landing when the media room realized the rover had succeffully landed on Mars at JPL on Sunday, August 5, 2012 when the Mars Rover Curiosity successfully touched down on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)
NASA adminstrator Charles Bolden at JPL at the post landing press conference with the principals who successfully landed the Mars Rover Curiosity on Sunday, August 5, 2012 on the red planet. (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)