NASA - Mars landing "7 minutes of terror" - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

NASA - Mars landing "7 minutes of terror"

Posted: Updated:

The countdown is on for NASA's latest mission to Mars.  The car-sized, one-ton rover "Curiosity" is set to land on the red planet Monday.

NASA's calling the landing "seven minutes of terror."     If all goes well, the rover will begin an important two-year mission.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, "If you can imagine going into the Grand Canyon, where we can look at the history of Earth, really, in that area, as we look at various strata. That's what landing in the crater allows us to do. And, it's actually going to climb the mountain. So, it will look across the geologic history of the planet Mars in the two years it's there."

Curiosity launched from Earth November 26th. NASA reports its rocket scientists haven't noticed any significant problems with its flight.  So, they expect the rover to land on schedule.

  • Top Stories

  • Saturday, May 18 2013 8:45 AM EDT2013-05-18 12:45:38 GMT
    A Waterville man is in the hospital this morning after an early morning home invasion. Lucas County Sheriff's deputies got the call of an home invasion in the 8900 block of S. River Road in Waterville
    A Waterville township mane is dead after an early morning home invasion.
    Lucas County Sheriff's deputies got the call of an home invasion in the 8900 block of S. River Road in Waterville just before 6 a.m.
  • Friday, May 17 2013 11:12 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:12:55 GMT
    $600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing.  It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
    $600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing.  It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-18 13:29:54 GMT
    Up to this point, 2013 has been one of the calmest severe weather seasons on record. However, a slow moving strong storm system is moving through the central parts of the country this weekend. That storm
    A severe weather outbreak is expected to bring tornadoes, wind and hail in the plains this weekend.

Area Events Calendar

See It, Shoot It, Send It!