A NASA robotic lander (named Curiosity) designed to determine the habitability of Mars. MSL is scheduled to launch in 2011 as part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program. MSL science goals are to determine whether Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting microbial life, to characterize the geology and climate of Mars, and to prepare for human exploration. MSL science instruments include three cameras, four spectrometers, two radiation detectors, and an environmental sensor. MSL homepage.