Mars Rover sends back first colour images

Nasa’s Curiosity Rover has transmitted its first colour photo and a low-resolution video showing the last two-and-a-half minutes of its white-knuckle dive through the Martian atmosphere, giving us earthlings a sneak peek of a spacecraft landing on another world.

As thumbnails of the video flashed on a big screen on Monday, scientists and engineers at the Nasa Jet Propulsion let out “oohs” and “aahs”. The recording began with the protective heat shield falling away and ended with dust being kicked up as the Rover was lowered by cables inside an ancient crater.

It was a sneak preview, since it will take some time before full-resolution frames are beamed back depending on other priorities.