Curiosity Rover on Track for Early August Landing

06.26.12


Artist's concept of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover This artist's concept features NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover, a mobile robot for investigating Mars' past or present ability to sustain microbial life. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mission Status Report

PASADENA, Calif. -- A maneuver on Tuesday adjusted the flight path of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft for delivering the rover Curiosity to a landing target beside a Martian mountain.

The car-size, one-ton rover is bound for arrival the evening of Aug. 5, 2012, PDT (early Aug. 6, EDT and Universal Time). The landing will mark the beginning of a two-year prime mission to investigate whether one of the most intriguing places on Mars ever offered an environment favorable for microbial life.

That was really impressive, Lynn; I trust there will be a live link to NASA
so we can listen in on the landing.

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The Kite Fliers

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Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

When this thing lands, I sure hope someone will be kind enough to link to all the goodies, like live streaming video feeds, news, etc.

IIRC the last good mars mission I watched unfold was in the late 90's (I forget what that rovers name was, but those were the nicest HD images of the red world I think we've ever seen. I remember N-Geo magazine doing a nice series on it.)

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#resist

When this thing lands, I sure hope someone will be kind enough to link to all the goodies, like live streaming video feeds, news, etc.

IIRC the last good mars mission I watched unfold was in the late 90's (I forget what that rovers name was, but those were the nicest HD images of the red world I think we've ever seen. I remember N-Geo magazine doing a nice series on it.)

Lets hope we do get a link, Ex'.

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The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Good report Lynn, many thanks :-)

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Those are my principles, and if you don't like them ... well, I have others.
Groucho Marx 1895-1977

I also have mine, and if you don't like them ... tough, live with it.
Chris S 2017

Member of UCB Charter Hill Society

For those who want a real experience on landing day
http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/events/planetfest-2012/
this should fit the bill nicely.

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For those who want a real experience on landing day
http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/events/planetfest-2012/
this should fit the bill nicely.

Nick and Chris, your both welcome :-) Gary, posted the above link. Thanks! It said Curiosity, will land around August 4 and 5, 6, 2012. Let's hope we do get live feed.

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

Is the link to NASA's page for the Mars science laboratory.

And I bet the "Nasa TV" link in Chris's first post will come in handy in August.

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#resist

spectacular photos of Mars

Until the Curiosity rover landing next month, thought these would make do for now....

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I have to voice my thoughts here. I am very nervous about that sky crane they are using to land Curiosity on the surface of Mars. Its very risky! Its a very complex method of putting that thing on the surface. I will keep my fingers crossed that it makes it down safely!

Good luck Curiosity!
John.

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I seem to remember seeing that the method used with Spirit and Opportunity wouldn't work for Curiosity due to it's increased size and mass. Plus they want to make a pinpoint landing. Other than the possibility of the new system having difficulties another potential hazzard would be one of those infamous Martian dust storms. But I would assume they have planned the landing for a time of the year when dust storms are a minimal risk.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Bob is correct that Curiosity's weight is too much for the airbag crash-landing method.

But I, like Johnny am worried about it all going just right. The "sky crane" is basically a rocket powered parachute of sorts, I see a lot that could go wrong. However we have some experience with successes and failures when it comes to dropping craft on other planets, and I think they will pull this off just fine.

I'm really looking forward to it. Only about one month left now.

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#resist

Once a lander failed because of different units systems used by the builders and NASA. I hope this time they have used the same system.
Tullio

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Well if we can't land a container of sophisticated machinery and electronics softly I think it will be so much longer before we attempt to send humans to the red planet. At least Curiosity is on a one way trip no matter how hard or soft the landing is. On the other hand a spacecraft with humans on board has to land totally intact and be able to launch again with only minimal repairs being able to be conducted. So far I do not recall any rocket making a re-entry into an atmosphere and then launch again without major servicing, except the lunar modules from the Apollo missions. However the moon is less massive and has virtually no atmosphere.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Curiosity Rover update!

NASA held a media press conference with just 20 days to go for the landing of Curiosity on Mars.

Its on Youtube,
NASA Rover on Course for Mars Landing(By NASA television)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9BRqeqJ2X0 (1 hour 5 minutes)

John.

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WE may have a last minute hitch .....

Oooops

Well , it isn't like they could send a last minute command to fix a problem at that point. We may just have to wait a few minutes longer to find out whether the landing was a success.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Its going to be very tense, the landing is just so technical. Fingers crossed here!

If it makes it to the surface ok, there is just a tonne of valuable instruments on that thing that could tell us so much about Mars!

John.

Agreed John, all fingers crossed ....

I am following Curiosity on the JPL site. They don't seem to worry much and they give more space to a new amplifier they just built.
Tullio

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