Launch Dates Narrowed for Mars Science Lab

href="http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/msl.jpg">src="http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/msl-580x317.jpg" alt="" title="This artist's concept from an animation depicts Curiosity, the rover to be launched in 2011 by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, as it is being lowered by the mission's rocket-powered descent stage during a critical moment of the "sky crane" landing in 2012. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech " width="580" height="317" class="size-medium wp-image-64808" />

Mission planners have narrowed the field for possible launch dates for NASA's next generation rover to href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/mars/" class="alinks_links" title="" rel="external">Mars, the Mars Science Laboratory, nicknamed Curiosity. Taking into account orbital mechanics, href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/the-solar-system/planetary-alignment/" class="alinks_links" title="" rel="external">planetary alignment, and communications issues, MSL's launch will occur between Nov. 25 and Dec. 18, 2011, with landing will taking place between Aug. 6 and Aug. 20, 2012. The actual landing site is still being decided, between four different locations on Mars (href="http://www.universetoday.com/2008/11/20/msl-news-landing-sites-and-naming-contest/">read about the four sites here.)

"The key factor was a choice between different strategies for sending communications during the critical moments before and during touchdown," said Michael Watkins, mission manager at NASA's Jet href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/spaceflight/propulsion-systems/" class="alinks_links" title="" rel="external">Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "The shorter trajectory is optimal for keeping both orbiters in view of Curiosity all the way to touchdown on href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/mars/mars-surface/" class="alinks_links" title="" rel="external">the surface of Mars. The longer trajectory allows direct communication to href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/earth/" class="alinks_links" title="" rel="external">Earth all the way to touchdown."/> (...)
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