Watchly Safety Review

NASA's Curiosity landing- 1 of her creator's POV

4:38 · 6.6M views · August 15, 2012

Safe for Most KidsReviewed June 2026

1No Issues

This video is safe and genuinely inspiring for kids of all ages, offering a rare first-person window into what it feels like to spend seven years building a Mars rover. The creator shares authentic emotion — nerves, joy, and personal loss — making science feel deeply human rather than abstract.

Content Breakdown · 1 Category

Geopolitical Commentary & AdvocacyNot present

The only political reference is a brief offhand comment in the transcript excerpt — 'something about the donald scared me (If I only knew what was coming 5 years later :/)' — which is a passing personal aside and does not constitute advocacy or one-sided political commentary.

See evidence (1)

“something about the donald scared me (If I only knew what was coming 5 years later :/)”

What Parents Need to Know

This short personal video documents a JPL engineer's experience watching NASA's Curiosity rover land on Mars in 2012, told from the perspective of someone who spent seven years of their career building it. It's overwhelmingly positive content: kids get to see a real scientist's passion, vulnerability, and pride in their work, which can be a powerful motivator for young people interested in STEM. The creator briefly mentions losing his mother to ALS while working on the project, which is a gentle but real reference to grief and illness. There is also a passing joke about Donald Trump that may prompt questions from older kids. Neither concern is significant, and the overall message — that hard work, teamwork, and dedication can literally put something on another planet — is excellent.

Talk to Your Kids About

1How do you think the engineer felt when he heard 'touchdown confirmed'? Have you ever worked really hard on something and felt that kind of relief?
2The video says JPL's greatest strength isn't its robots, it's the people who build them. What do you think makes a great team?
3The engineer worked on this project for seven years — nearly his whole career. Is there something you'd be willing to work on for that long? What would it take?
4He says something he designed and built is now sitting on another planet. What would you want to send to Mars if you could?

NASA's Curiosity landing- 1 of her creator's POV

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

I was able to work on NASA JPL's Curiosity Mars Rover for 7 years. This video is an attempt to capture what it felt like to have 7 years of your life vindicated in the 7 minute landing. Honestly one of the coolest moments of my life so far. All the pictures of hardware you see in the video are things that I worked on designing or testing or building. I got to work on the Sky Crane for 3-4 years then with some hardware on the Rover itself for the rest. My background in school is Mechanical Engineering. Who won the bet? Gizmodo tells all: http://gizmodo.com/5932214/heres-exactly-where-mars-curiosity-landedand-the-nasa-engineer-who-won-that-bet?popular=true SUBSCRIBE: http://tinyurl.com/undscvrdspc-sub CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/undscvrdspc FOLLOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober FACEBOOK ME: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube CHECK OUT JPL's Website: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ MUSIC: -Two songs by Explosions in the Sky- "Your hand in mine" and "First Breath after coma"

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is suitable for children aged 6 and up. The content is entirely wholesome and science-focused, with only a brief mention of a parent's illness that is handled maturely and without graphic detail.

Is there anything upsetting or scary in this video?

The creator briefly mentions losing his mother to ALS, which could prompt questions about illness and death from younger or more sensitive children. The moment is not dwelt upon, but parents of very young kids may want to be ready for that conversation.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it offers genuine insight into the work of a NASA JPL engineer and the emotional reality of long-term scientific projects. It humanizes STEM careers in a way that textbooks rarely do, making it a great conversation starter about space exploration and engineering.

Does this video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

No, there is no advertising, sponsorship, or promotional content of any kind in this video. It is a personal, heartfelt account shared by someone who worked on the Curiosity mission.

Is this video accurate about the Mars landing?

Yes, the video documents the real August 2012 landing of NASA's Curiosity rover and reflects genuine first-hand experience from someone who worked at JPL. There is no misinformation or exaggeration about the science involved.

Could this video inspire kids to pursue science or engineering?

Absolutely — seeing a real engineer's excitement, nerves, and pride is one of the most authentic portrayals of a STEM career available on YouTube. It shows kids that science is done by real, emotional people who care deeply about their work.