NASA held a news conference to discuss the upcoming August landing of the most advanced robot ever sent to another world. A new public-engagement collaboration based on the mission also will be debuted. The event was held at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Mars Science Laboratory will deliver the Curiosity rover to the surface of Mars at approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5 (1:31 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6). Curiosity, carrying laboratory instruments to analyze samples of rocks, soil and atmosphere, will investigate whether Mars has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.
Participants include:
-- Doug McCuistion, director, Mars Exploration Program, NASA Headquarters
-- Michael Meyer, lead scientist, Mars Exploration Program, NASA Headquarters
-- John Grotzinger, MSL project scientist, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
-- Pete Theisinger, MSL project manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena
-- Jeff Norris, manager, planning and execution systems, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the landing of Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rovers.
We will delve into the stories of these incredible robots, with a look at how the exploration of Mars and the understanding of ourselves has changed because of the twin rovers.
Speakers:
John Callas, former Mars Exploration Rovers project manager
Abigail Fraeman, former Mars Exploration Rovers deputy project scientist
Host:
Nikki Wyrick, office of communications and education, NASA JPL
