Mars Curiosity rover's 'crazy' landing system
Nasa's $2.5bn Curiosity rover mission relied on a revolutionary new landing system that even the mission team conceded looked a bit "crazy".
On descent, the rover was held in a rocket-propelled cradle which slowed itself to a halt and hover 20m above the surface of Mars to lower the rover down on nylon cables.
This clip from the BBC's Horizon programme was first broadcast 30 July 2012
30 Jul 2012
- From the section Science & Environment