Apropos of yesterday's post (see How To Get To Mars), NASA reports that the Mars Science Laboratory (shown above) carrying the Curiosity Rover blasted off for Mars last weekend. The rover has six small wheels, a head-like camera, a rock crusher, a long robotic arm, and a plutonium power source. It is scheduled to land on Mars next August. [NOTE: Click here for an informative animation about the Mars Science Lab mission and the Curiosity Rover that will explore the surface of this planet for two years].