Mars probe-- Curiosity

The Write Stuff

NASA probe problems could add suspense to Mars landing
Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:56 PM PDT
WASHINGTON — When NASA’s newest Mars rover arrives at the Red Planet next month, it’ll have a harrowing descent, called “seven minutes of terror” by agency officials, before it lands safely or becomes a $2.5 billion crater.

But NASA — nor the public — might not know the fate of the Curiosity rover for a couple hours because of problems with a nearby Mars probe tasked with monitoring its landing.

NASA officials said today that its Mars Odyssey orbiter has had glitches with its attitude control system, going into “safe mode” a couple times since early June, and those troubles have impacted NASA’s efforts to put Odyssey in an orbit where it would definitely pass over the landing spot of Curiosity immediately afterward.

“From a communications perspective, it won’t cover the entire landing event at this point and it may not cover any of that landing event,” said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.

While NASA officials were quick to point out that these problems won’t affect the landing itself , it could mean that NASA scientists could be holding their breath for a couple hours, instead of a few minutes, as they wait for Odyssey’s orbit to come back around on Aug. 6.

For more about the mission, click here. It’s primary purpose is to study whether Mars ever could have supported microbial life.






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