July 16, 2012: NASA's most advanced planetary rover is on a
precise course for an early August landing beside a Martian mountain to begin
two years of unprecedented scientific detective work. However, getting the
Curiosity rover to the surface of Mars will not be easy.
"The Curiosity
landing is the hardest NASA mission ever attempted in the history of robotic
planetary exploration," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's
Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "While the
challenge is great, the team's skill and determination give me high confidence
in a successful landing."
Curiosity is scheduled to land at approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5
(1:31 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6). /
NASA