Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. Credit: NASA/KSC/JPL
The Curiosity rover is ready for its cruise to the red planet.
If all stays on track, an Atlas V rocket will boost NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory into space on November 26th.
On that day, the launch window for departure of the craft extends from 10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in early August 2012.
As the most advanced rover ever to land on another planet, Curiosity is equipped to probe whether its landing region has had environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life, and favorable for preserving clues about whether life existed.
Where’s Curiosity headed?
The one-ton rover will examine Gale Crater during a nearly two-year prime mission – once safely on Mars terrain. Curiosity will land near the base of a layered mountain 3 miles (5 kilometers) high inside Gale crater.
The MSL mission will pioneer precision landing methods during the spacecraft’s crucial plunge through Mars’ atmosphere next August to place the rover onto a smaller landing target than any previously for a Mars mission.
The target inside Gale Crater is 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) by 15.5 miles (25 kilometers). Rough terrain just outside that area would have disqualified the landing site without the improved precision.
The nuclear-powered rover will carry a set of 10 science instruments.
By Leonard David