NASA selects Mars rover landing site
Posted: Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 7:38 AM ET (1138 GMT)
NASA's next Mars rover will land in a large crater that features a mountain the rover will climb, project scientists announced Friday. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), also known as Curiosity, will land in Gale Crater near the planet's equator. The crater, over 150 kilometers in diameter, features a central mountain about five kilometers high that the rover will climb during its mission, allowing the rover to study a variety of terrains. Gale was one of four finalists for the MSL landing site, selected by scientists from a group of 60 candidate sites based on their scientific value and engineering feasibility. Of particular interest at the landing site are clays at the base of the mountain that likely formed in the presence of liquid water and could provide new clues to the planet's early history, including whether the planet once supported life. MSL is scheduled to launch in late November and land at Gale Crater in August 2012.
NASA's next Mars rover will land in a large crater that features a mountain the rover will climb, project scientists announced Friday. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), also known as Curiosity, will land in Gale Crater near the planet's equator. The crater, over 150 kilometers in diameter, features a central mountain about five kilometers high that the rover will climb during its mission, allowing the rover to study a variety of terrains. Gale was one of four finalists for the MSL landing site, selected by scientists from a group of 60 candidate sites based on their scientific value and engineering feasibility. Of particular interest at the landing site are clays at the base of the mountain that likely formed in the presence of liquid water and could provide new clues to the planet's early history, including whether the planet once supported life. MSL is scheduled to launch in late November and land at Gale Crater in August 2012.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 24
France and ESA Back Development of Dassault’s VORTEX Spaceplane
European Spaceflight — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) The Exploration Company Declares Mission Possible a “Partial Success”
European Spaceflight — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) In the trace lies the truth: Halogens and the fate of the lunar crust
Eurekalert — 6:10 am ET (1010 GMT) Researchers Take One Small Step Toward Planning Life on Mars
Univ. of Mississippi — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) Durham scientists play key role in global space survey as first Rubin Observatory images released
Durham Univ. — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) |
