The two big mergers in Europe -- between Air France and KLM, and British Airways and Iberia -- had been accomplished through the creation of holding companies, allowing the respective airlines to operate independently and remain nationally-owned, he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

This was accomplished by a heat shield, a parachute and some retro-rockets and, finally, air bags that inflated just before touchdown.

NPR: Mars Rover Marks Second Anniversary of Landing