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The Curiosity rover, which launched in November, is about to make a maneuver vital to its successful landing. Later today, the spacecraft carrying the rover will perform a series of engine burns intended to redirect it towards the landing point at Gale Crater. It's necessary because the rocket's initial trajectory was actually set to miss Mars in order to prevent the upper stage from potentially contaminating the planet with microbes from Earth — unlike Curiosity, the rocket wasn't cleaned completely before launch. Since the Curiosity's ultimate mission is to discover whether the crater supports or ever could have supported microbial life, any unintended travelers could fatally affect the project. After the redirect, the craft will continue until August, when the rover will hopefully be deployed and begin its study of Mars.
Comments
That is wonderful. I cannot wait. Good luck, Curiosity.
alfredoggy - January 11, 2012
NASA ftw!
5ium - January 11, 2012
Everyone should watch landing protocol for Curiosity on youtube or something. It’s nothing short of extraordinary. Several hundred things gotta go just right and all system have to perform as they should or landing not going to happen. I mean for god sake they have suspending cables suspending rover while whole thing is leveling in flight …I mean just watch it …amazing Look here for video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiEoGUHEobo
XAKEP - January 11, 2012
welcome to the party!!
..its old…it was posted on verge too before Curiosity’s launch!
njsrikar - January 11, 2012
On the subject of rockets and microbes: http://youtu.be/xulaYpsnkcg
Duovarious - January 11, 2012
Alternatively you could bring life to the planet and see if it works there. I mean if you’re not sure the party is going to have a keg, you BYOB.
roxics - January 11, 2012
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