Mars Curiosity Rover - Mission Progress

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.

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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-Dave #2


3.2.0-33

Good report Lynn, many thanks :-)

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Damsel Rescuer, Kitty Patron, Uli Fan, Julie Supporter, CAMRA
ES99 Admirer, Raccoon Friend, IFAW, PETA, 5% Badge

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.

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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-Dave #2


3.2.0-33

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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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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-Dave #2


3.2.0-33

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

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 ....