Separation from the Atlas V541 launch vehicle

After separation from the Atlas V541 launch vehicle, the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, with the rover Curiosity and descent stage, are tucked inside the aeroshell. At this point, as the Rover enters the atmosphere, still traveling at about 13,000 miles per hour, NASA will lose contact with the vehicle, and we begin what is known as the "seven minutes of terror" during which time the landing systems are automated, and all the NASA engineers back on Earth can do is cross their fingers and wait for a successful touchdown.