For the most part, there was upbeat news about the Aug. 5
landing of the Mars Science Lab [Curiosity] discussed at a NASA
July 16 news conference. The mission components have shown
outstanding performance during its eight-month cruse. The
spacecraft completed an attitude control burn July 11 that
positions the medium gain antenna toward the earth for
communications, and July 12 there was a final operational
readiness exercise of the landing procedures. Curiosity is
scheduled to land at approximately 10:31 p.m., PDT, Aug. 5. But
the Mars Odyssey satellite has suffered a reaction wheel failure
and is not in the orbit that was planned to relay touchdown
communications to the earth. NASA is currently determining if
this situation can be improved. If not, touchdown parameters may
not reach the earth for 1 1/2 to 2 hours after touchdown, when
the next orbit of Odyssey will be in direct line of sight view
of MSL and the Earth. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
telecommunication system receives, stores, and plays back