American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently waiting for landing spacecraft carrying robots to examine for signs of life on Mars.
Spacecraft cost 2.5 million U.S. dollars, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), following a car-sized robot named Curiosity brought expected to land on Mars on Monday (08.06.2012) is at 12:31 pm.
If the landing is successful then this opportunity will be the first moment of landing a six-wheeled robot on the planet other than Earth.
"In our rational self-confident, emotionally anxious and ready to land," said Adam Stelzner, one of which handles the spacecraft entered the atmosphere and landing on Mars.
Mars landing process dubbed "Seven Minutes of Terror". On entering the atmosphere of Mars, MSL will be moving with a speed of 21 240 km per hour and then slowed down with the help of a supersonic parachute.
Once the process enters the atmosphere, the sky crane landing complex will help Curiosity. Expected, the robot will land exactly.
"The excitement built as the team diligently monitor this spacecraft. It is natural there is anxiety, but we believe we have prepared well," said mission manager, Brian Portock.
Curiosity did not target the scientists to find life on Mars. They just want to be able to analyze the soil and the Curiosity molecule capable of supporting life in the past Martian life.
In addition, through this ambitious mission, the scientists also wanted to explore the possibility of landing humans on Mars missions.
Spacecraft have been sent is also collecting data on the radiation during the 8.5-month trip to Mars since the launch in November 2011 and in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Mars program director, Doug McCuistion, said that the search for an answer whether life on Earth alone, the evolution of Mars from wet to dry, and the likelihood of future exploration of Mars is very crucial.
"If the mission is successful, then this will be one of our greatest achievements in space mission," McCuistion said told AFP on Monday (08/06/2012).
"The success we've been pretty good at current levels," added McCuistion. Still, he admits, "It's very difficult. We may not succeed."
If it turns out this mission fails, it's not the end. McCuistion said that NASA will continue to learn from mistakes to improve the next mission.
Curiosity is planned landing in Gale Crater. Weather on Mars is currently supporting landing. The storm occurred a few days, but has now disappeared.
Curiosity will land in otopilot. The success of the landing will be known 14 hours after landing because of communication gap between Mars and Earth.
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