[meteorite-list] NASA's Curiosity Rover Continues Mobility Checkouts

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:30:02 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201106132230.p5DMU2Ls017296_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-180

NASA's Curiosity Continues Mobility Checkouts
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
June 13, 2011

Spacecraft specialists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif., have been putting the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity,
through various tests in preparation for shipment to NASA's Kennedy
Space Center in Florida this month.

A new set of images online shows the rover maneuvering its robotic arm
and driving in JPL's Spacecraft Assembly Facility, where it was built.
The images are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/index.html .

Assembly and testing work is on track for launch of the Mars Science
Laboratory from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during the
period from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18, 2011.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena,
manages the mission for the NASA Science Mission Directorate,
Washington. This mission will land Curiosity on Mars in August 2012.
Researchers will use the tools on the rover to study whether the landing
region has had environmental conditions favorable for supporting
microbial life and favorable for preserving clues about whether life
existed. More information about the mission is online at:
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ .

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov

2011-180
Received on Mon 13 Jun 2011 06:30:02 PM PDT