New NASA rover to scout for life's habitats on Mars

[redrumloa]

New NASA rover to scout for life's habitats on Mars

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A nuclear-powered rover as big as a compact car is set to begin a nine-month journey to Mars this weekend to learn if the planet is or ever was suitable for life.

The launch of NASA's $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory aboard an unmanned United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is set for 10:02 a.m. EST (1502 GMT) on Saturday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, located just south of the Kennedy Space Center.

The mission is the first since NASA's 1970s-era Viking program to directly tackle the age-old question of whether there is life in the universe beyond Earth.

 

[Karlos]

New NASA rover to scout for life's habitats on Mars

Hopefully the Great Galactic Ghoul won't scupper this one as it did half of all missions to our rusty neighbour, including Russia's latest. On which note, there has been some progress - at least they can got some telemetry from it, indicating it isn't completely dead. Time is running out to get it on it's way though, soon the distance will be too great for it to get there.