NASA counts down to dramatic Mars landing
09:00 • 06.08.12

With a mixture of tense nerves and confidence, NASA counted down to the landing of its largest ever robotic rover on Mars, where it will search for signs that life may once have existed.
The $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory, featuring a car-sized rover called Curiosity, is expected to land on Mars at 0531 GMT on Monday (10:31 pm Sunday on the US West Coast).
However, success is anything but certain with this first-of-its-kind attempt to drop a six-wheeled chemistry lab by rocket-powered sky crane on an alien planet. NASA's more recent rover dropoffs were done with the help of airbags.
"We are rationally confident, emotionally terrified and ready for EDL," said NASA engineer Adam Steltzner, leader of the US space agency team tasked with entry, descent and landing (EDL), a process NASA has called "Seven Minutes of Terror."
In these final moments, the spacecraft should accelerate with the pull of gravity as it nears Mars' atmosphere, making a fiery entry at a speed of 13,200 miles (21,240 kilometers) per hour and then slowing down with the help of a supersonic parachute.
After that, an elaborate sky crane powered by rocket blasters kicks in, and the rover is due to be lowered down by nylon tethers, hopefully landing upright on all six wheels.
"Excitement is building while the team is diligently monitoring the spacecraft," said mission manager Brian Portock. "It's natural to get anxious before a big event, but we believe we are very well prepared."
Scientists do not expect Curiosity to find aliens or living creatures. Rather they hope to use it to analyze soil and rocks for signs that the building blocks of life are present and may have supported life in the past.
The project also aims to study the Martian environment to prepare for a possible human mission there in the coming years.
LATEST NEWS • All Today news
09:41 • 24/05
Microsoft mocks Apple in New Ad (video)
09:36 • 24/05
09:28 • 24/05
N.Korea ‘willing’ to resume Denuclearization talks
09:13 • 24/05
Balkan countries agree to build two new pipelines for getting gas from Azerbaijan
08:42 • 24/05
08:26 • 24/05
US road bridge collapses into Skagit River, Washington
08:14 • 24/05
Barack Obama defends 'just war' using drones
22:17 • 23/05
Armenian students offered remote access to US nuclear reactor
21:51 • 23/05
21:33 • 23/05
Iranian gas pipeline offers no alternative, says energy minister
20:48 • 23/05
Soldier Lee Rigby killed in London attack
20:27 • 23/05
Karabakh issue discussed in Azerbaijan
19:42 • 23/05
Woman in Armenia’s Vanadzor attempts self-immolation
19:15 • 23/05
Britain's Tate museum sets $34m record for Constable painting
18:39 • 23/05
London terror suspects faced security investigation
18:23 • 23/05
Gas price hike plan spurs protest in Armenia’s capital (updated, photos) 
18:10 • 23/05
Armenian rescuers conduct test flights at 800m altitude (video)
17:56 • 23/05
Georges Moustaki, composer of Edith Piaf hit song, dies
17:31 • 23/05
Public attitudes to opinions perceived unpatriotic were hostile in Armenia - Amnesty International
17:25 • 23/05
Ex deputy head of Nubarashen penitentiary arrested for bribery
17:18 • 23/05
Armenia’s central bank launches hotline for villager loans
17:01 • 23/05
Georgian clergymen charged over disrupting gay parade
16:39 • 23/05
Armenian catholicos meets Swiss envoy
16:24 • 23/05
Istanbul tops the list with most rape cases in Turkey
16:22 • 23/05
Gas price rise to scale up poverty in Armenia
16:19 • 23/05
Google acquires kite-power generator
16:00 • 23/05
Iran election: Rafsanjani criticises leaders' 'ignorance'
15:35 • 23/05
‘You are nothing’ – ruling party MP to opposition
15:35 • 23/05
‘You will enjoy the upcoming 4-5 years, we will work hard’ – PM
14:58 • 23/05
Global stocks markets hit after Chinese data and Fed comments
14:29 • 23/05
‘Chechnya’s consular agent to Turkey’ murdered in Ankara
14:24 • 23/05
14:19 • 23/05
Energy, gas price revision shows rise – official
14:07 • 23/05
Armenia’s NA chairman calls for reconciliation
13:27 • 23/05
Parliament approves Armenia’s government program
13:24 • 23/05
Armenian National Congress to vote against government program
13:22 • 23/05
Armenia’s minister of urban development visits Yerevan’s covered market
13:19 • 23/05
Last bell to ring for graduates on May 24
12:31 • 23/05
Georgia’s Vano Merabishvili sent to prison
12:25 • 23/05
Hail-stricken villagers dissatisfied with Armenia’s government
12:24 • 23/05
NGO head calls for boycotting gas charges
12:21 • 23/05
Farmers of hail-stricken villages to be freed of water, land taxes
11:29 • 23/05
Prince Charles to visit Armenia
11:27 • 23/05
Trade conditions unlikely to change – CBA
11:22 • 23/05
Lennon lyrics donated to British Library for tax relief
11:11 • 23/05
10:55 • 23/05
Nissan to recall more than 800,000 cars
10:44 • 23/05
Eddie Ahern and Neil Clement receive lengthy BHA bans
10:39 • 23/05
Aleppo-Armenian intellectual kidnapped by extremist rebel group
10:19 • 23/05
Carrefour to divest 25 pct stake in Middle East venture
09:52 • 23/05
168 Zham: Moscow’s second message
09:51 • 23/05
Zhoghovurd: Opposition rep reached agreement with Armenia’s prosecutor general?
Most popular articles
11:11 • 23/05
19:42 • 23/05
Woman in Armenia’s Vanadzor attempts self-immolation
11:29 • 23/05
Prince Charles to visit Armenia
10:19 • 23/05
Carrefour to divest 25 pct stake in Middle East venture
21:33 • 23/05
Iranian gas pipeline offers no alternative, says energy minister
20:27 • 23/05
Karabakh issue discussed in Azerbaijan
20:48 • 23/05
Soldier Lee Rigby killed in London attack
10:39 • 23/05
Aleppo-Armenian intellectual kidnapped by extremist rebel group
22:17 • 23/05
Armenian students offered remote access to US nuclear reactor
10:55 • 23/05
- N.Korea ‘willing’ to resume Denuclearization talks
- London terror suspects faced security investigation
- Public attitudes to opinions perceived unpatriotic were hostile in Armenia - Amnesty International
- Aleppo-Armenian intellectual kidnapped by extremist rebel group
- Woolwich machete attack: Cameron to lead Cobra meeting



















