This software for Mars surface operations was uploaded to the rover's memory during the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft's flight from Earth.

ENGADGET: NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars

The rover is installing its full surface operations software after the landing because its computers didn't have room for it during flight.

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It gives us basic capabilities for operating the rover on the surface, but we have planned all along to switch over after landing to a version of flight software that is really optimized for surface operations.

ENGADGET: NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars