Curiosity rover on track for early August landing on Mars

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 - 15:20 in Astronomy & Space

Eight days before reaching Mars, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft performed a flight-path adjustment scheduled more than nine months ago. The trajectory correction maneuver completed late Saturday may be the last one the mission needs before landing day, though two further opportunities remain on its schedule in case they are needed. The spacecraft is on course for delivering the mission's car-size rover, Curiosity, to a landing target beside a Martian mountain at about 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5. (1:31 a.m. on Aug. 6, EDT). After landing, the rover will spend a two-year prime mission studying whether the area has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for life.

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