Editing Mars Science Laboratory (section)

==== Powered descent ====
[[File:593472main pia14838 full Curiosity and Descent Stage, Artist's Concept.jpg|thumb|The powered descent stage]]
Following the parachute braking, at about {{convert|1.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} altitude, still travelling at about {{convert|100|m/s|mph|abbr=on}}, the rover and descent stage dropped out of the aeroshell.<ref name="EntryDescentLanding"/> The descent stage is a platform above the rover with eight variable thrust [[monopropellant rocket|monopropellant]] [[hydrazine]] rocket thrusters on arms extending around this platform to slow the descent. Each rocket thruster, called a Mars Lander Engine (MLE),<ref name="report"/> produces {{convert|400|to|3100|N|lbf|abbr=on}} of thrust and were derived from those used on the Viking landers.<ref name="aerojetMSLengines"/> A radar altimeter measured altitude and velocity, feeding data to the rover's flight computer. Meanwhile, the rover transformed from its stowed flight configuration to a landing configuration while being lowered beneath the descent stage by the "sky crane" system.