Museum Hosts Event for Historic Rover Landing on August 5

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Features Live NASA Coverage and Local Experts

DENVER-July 17, 2012-NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission will land the "mega-rover" Curiosity-the largest mobile spacecraft ever launched to another planet-on Sunday, August 5. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is hosting an event for this historic moment in space exploration. Visitors are invited to join the Museum's Mars scientist, Dr. Steve Lee, and experts from Lockheed Martin, Sierra Nevada Corporation, United Launch Alliance, Southwest Research Institute, the Space Science Institute, and the Museum to learn about this ambitious mission and what's in store for the new rover. 

"We are excited to be hosting a public event for the opening of this next major chapter in Mars exploration," said Lee, the Museum's curator of planetary science. "We hope visitors of all ages will join us for the live landing coverage and maybe even see Curiosity's first views of its new home on Mars!"

During its two-year mission, Curiosity will analyze dozens of samples drilled from rocks or scooped from the ground using an extensive payload of scientific gear. Curiosity is about twice the size and five times as heavy as the extremely successful twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which have been on the Red Planet since early 2004. Curiosity's target is the base of Mount Sharp, a mountain of layered rocks rising 18,000 feet above the floor of Gale Crater. Observations of this region from orbit by earlier Mars missions indicate liquid water was present here at some point in the past. Curiosity is expected to assess whether the crater has ever had or still has environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life.

Curiosity Landing Event- /learn/adults/after-hours/curiosity-landing-event/ 
Sunday, August 5, $8 member, $10 nonmember, $5 child (ages 3-12)

Additional Information

MSL mission-http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

Mission status-http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/status.html

Press Contact

Charlotte Hurley, charlotte.hurley@dmns.org / 303.370.6407

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205.  To learn more about the Museum, check www.dmns.org, or call 303-370-6000.
 
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Many of the Museum's educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.