NASA wants to show the world the thrilling moment when the Curiosity Rover ends its 36-week journey around Earth to finally land on the Red Planet.
The livestream of the landing can be found on NASA’s own page and also via Ustream (the latter offers an embed code). While the world waits for the Rover landing, NASA staff explain the technology behind the space vehicle; also, viewers can hear communication between staff.
The landing is scheduled for 1:24 a.m. ET, and NASA created a Twitter account for the rover to keep the public updated on its journey. As of publication, no delay has been reported.
At midnight, the tweet read: I’m inside the orbit of Deimos and completely on my own. Wish me luck!”
The Web isn’t the only outlet broadcasting the Mars landing. The Toshiba Vision screen in New York City’s Times Square is giving New Yorkers a telecast of the event.
As reported on Digital Journal, in order for the landing to succeed, NASA’s MSL spacecraft that is transporting Curiosity to the Martian surface will need to reduce its speed of 13,200 mph (5,900 meters per second) to zero.
“Curiosity is a bold step forward in learning about our neighboring planet, but this mission does not stand alone. It is part of a sustained, coordinated program of Mars exploration,” said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This mission transitions the program’s science emphasis from the planet’s water history to its potential for past or present life.”
