[X] My Assistant

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We're now 45 days from landing, so as of 23 Jun please post all comments related to the end of the transit to Mars here.

Go Curiosity!!!!

[Guest_Oersted_*]

Ok, I found the answer to which way the entry configuration is influenced by the shedding of the cruise balance masses. As I thought, the "nose" of the spacecraft does indeed tip downwards by twenty degrees, to enable a guided lifting entry:

Described on p. 2 of
"Mars Science Laboratory. Entry, Descent, and Landing System Overview"
http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstre...9/1/10-1775.pdf



mcaplinger, yes, the spacecraft doers indeed maneuver around during entry, but the jettison of the CBMs gives it a new stable configuration, with the nose pointing downwards so the lift vector points slighty forwards.

- Another interesting fact, new to me, is that the thrusters may actually fire after parachute deploy, to dampen any unwanted rotation of the capsule under the chute. That's never been done before. "Wrist mode damping is active throughout parachute descent and ensures a safe heatshield separation, good TDS surface acquisition, and a safe backshell separation" (p. 8).