CosmoQuest Hangout for Curiosity Landing

The Mars Science Laboratory – Curiosity – is set to land at 10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5 (1:31 a.m. EDT Aug. 6). Thats, um, today.

This may be the most terrifying landing ever attempted on another planet, and we’re going to be bringing you all the details here on CosmoQuest. Starting at at 8pm Pacific (11pm Eastern, all times here) will be doing a live Google Hangout on Air hosted by Fraser Cain of Universe Today. Check it all out (and RSVP) here. We’re going to keep going until confirmation of life or death, or confirmation there will be a prolonged lack of information. In other words, expect us to be on air at least 4 marathon hours as we bring you background on the mission, and live commentary on events as they unfold.

We know this is all terribly exciting, but remember to breath! If you stop breathing, you might pass out and miss all the excitement of landing!

For those of you looking for all the dirt, here is your quick link guide to landing:

• Press Kit [PDF]
• NASA TV Schedule
• Press Briefing Schedule (via Emily)
• Official NASA Website
• Wikipedia Page
• Landing 101 from Spaceflight 101
• Eyes on the Solar System Live Simulation of MSL approach
• Key Posts from Emily Lakdawalla
• How Curiosity will Land Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
• Curiosity’s Shrinking Landing Ellipse
• Science Hour with Ravi Prakash

Can’t wait to watch our coverage? Well, below are our favourite NASA videos. Enjoy them for now, and we’ll see you in a few hours.

PS There are also posts about MSL’s landing on my blog (StarStryder), Universe Today, Bad Astronomy,  CosmicLog, StarTalk, and many many other sites.

Seven Minutes of Terror

MSL Mission Science Overview

MSL Mission Engineering Overview