Curiosity is expected to land at 10:31 p.m., Aug. 5 PDT. Photo Courtesy of NASA.
In the evening hours of Aug. 5, 2012, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory and their Rover named 'Curiosity' embarked on a two-year red planet expedition to search for potential past and present life.
The rover, which weighs more than one ton and is about the size of an SUV, is packed with a payload weighing 15 times as much as the instruments on previous rovers.
RELATED: Mars Rover Curiosity to Double as Martian Weather Station
Because of its weight, Curiosity was lowered on nylon cords from a rocket backpack. The airbag system developed for earlier rovers would not have been capable of sustaining the weight of Curiosity.
NASA's previous Mars expedition with the rover Opportunity found geological evidence that Mars was, at one point, warm and wet. Curiosity's mission seeks to expand on this evidence.
Seven Minutes of Terror began trending on twitter last week, after NASA released a viral video with the title, referring to the seven questionable minutes that Curiosity would take to enter Mars' atmosphere and reach the surface of Mars.
OK everyone let's not tell
— SheilaDC (@SheilaDC) August 3, 2012#Curiosity about that little#SevenMinutesOfTerror thing! Excited#NASA#Countdown
"Steady as She Goes," MarsCuriosity tweeted out last week. "I'm in good health & on course for landing. Countdown to Mars: 3 days!"
The US is heavily favored to bring home Gold in the Martian floor routine, as long as they stick the landing
— Johnny Duggan (@SpaceDugg) August 2, 2012#sevenminutesofterror
The storm responsible for the wind, cold, rain and snow in the Northeast Friday and Saturday will slowly ease up for the balance of the holiday weekend.
A few days after a chilly storm departs the Northeast, warm weather will make a strong comeback in parts of the Midwest and the East later next week.
During Sunday's race, the skies will be variably cloudy with the risk of a few showers.
"This pup was literally singing when he saw his family," Michelle Karolicki, relocation program manager of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, said about a reunion that took place on Thursday.
Another plunge of chilly air will set the stage for the risk of a frost and freeze centered Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and other nearby states this weekend.
Downpours and locally severe thunderstorms over the Central states will not only foil holiday weekend activities, but will also put some lives at risk.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Illinois (1917)
A tornado of long duration was observed for
7 hours and 20 minutes and was said to extend
293 miles. The storm struck Mattoon and
Charleston, killing 70 people.
New England (1967)
(25th-26th) Coastal New England battered by a
great Nor'easter. Winds mounted to 70-80 mph
on the coast. Blue Hill had sustained
winds of 60 mph and Logan had sustained
winds of 50 mph. Lowest pressure of 29.30"
was measured over the ocean; 5-10" of snow
fell in the Berkshires with considerable damage
to the tobacco crop in the Connecticut River
Valley. Temperature dropped to 31 degrees at
Pittsfield on the 30th for a remarkable end
of May freeze.
Erie, PA (1991)
One-half inch of rain fell in only 5 minutes.
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