associated press
This artist’s rendering released by NASA/JPL-Caltech on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, shows how NASA’s Curiosity rover will communicate with Earth during landing. As the rover descends to the surface of Mars, it will send out two different types of data: basic radio-frequency tones that go directly to Earth (pink dots) and more complex UHF radio data (blue circles) that require relaying by orbiters. NASA’s Odyssey orbiter will pick up the UHF signal and relay it immediately back to Earth, while NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will record the UHF data and play it back to Earth at a later time.
Published Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 | 8:07 p.m.
Updated Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 | 6:59 a.m.
Keep up with Curiosity
The latest news on the landing of the NASA spacecraft Curiosity on Mars tonight was displayed on the Strip Sunday night, thanks to the world's largest digital billboard on the side of the Walgreens drug store across from CityCenter at Harmon Avenue.
News on the approach and successful landing on Mars, the most ambitious yet by NASA and featuring its most high-tech rover to date, was displayed as live video on the signboard, showing the tense moments before telemetry was received showing that Curisoity had landed, safely intact, on the planet's surface, and the jubilant celebration that followed.
The updates, starting at 9 p.m. were a public service by LasVegasSun.com.
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