future space programs...

A program that NASA is planning and in the process of creating is a new mars rover. on May 12, 2011, parts of the mars mission spacecraft were sent to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The pieces that were sent were the heat shield, back shell and cruise stage of the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft. The mission is planned to launch in the later months of 2011 and NASA's rover, Curiosity, will reach the surface of mars in August of 2012.