The Mars Science Laboratory, a mission designed to explore Mars, launched the Curiosity rover using an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This cutting-edge rover is equipped with 10 different scientific instruments, which are capable of conducting complex analyses of the Martian environment. Curiosity's primary goals include assessing the planet's habitability, analyzing its climate and geology, and searching for signs of past life. The launch of Curiosity represented a major milestone in NASA's Mars exploration program, building upon earlier missions such as Viking, Pathfinder, and the Mars Exploration Rovers. Curiosity’s design incorporates numerous calibration tests and technological advancements that allow for unprecedented surface exploration of Mars.

Following its launch, Curiosity was set to embark on a journey spanning over 350 million miles, navigating through space for approximately eight months before making a dramatic landing in Gale Crater on Mars. The rover’s mission also represents a transition in Mars exploration towards a more mobile and flexible ability to explore the Martian landscape in depth, paving the way for future missions. With its unprecedented capabilities, Curiosity promised to send back detailed scientific data and images that would deepen our understanding of Mars and its potential for sustaining life.

Curiosity was also the first rover to utilize the 'Sky Crane' landing system, which allowed for a soft landing while remaining upright, thus avoiding damage on the Martian surface. This innovative approach set the stage for future NASA missions to deliver larger and more complex systems to Mars, enhancing the science that can be performed on the planet. Overall, the Mars Science Laboratory mission aimed to prepare for future human exploration by answering critical questions about Martian water and habitability.