ITWire

 

According to the NASA media brief Watch Construction Of NASA's New Mars Rover Live On The Web, 'A newly installed webcam is giving the public an opportunity to watch technicians assemble and test the next NASA Mars rover, one of the most technologically challenging interplanetary missions ever designed.'

This next robotic roving vehicle to the planet Mars is officially called by NASA its Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), but a contest winner gave it the name 'Curiosity.'

The small -- yet still larger than the two rovers currently on the Martian surface, Spirit and Opportunity -- rover will be assembled at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

The webcam that will be recording video (without audio) is called Curiosity Cam.

In addition to the video cam, NASA states that 'The video will be supplemented periodically by live Web chats featuring Curiosity team members answering questions about the rover. Currently, work in the clean room begins at 8 a.m. PDT Monday through Friday."

When watching the assembly of Curiosity, you may see the seven-foot-long robotic arm being attached to the rover. This will occur on October 25, 2010.

Page two concludes with two web sites that provide coverage of Curiosity Cam.