NASA's rover Curiosity is fast approaching the Red Planet with a scientific instrument provided by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on board. The landing is scheduled for August 6 at 1:31 a.m. Eastern (August 5, 10:31 p.m. PDT).

Curiosity will study whether the Gale Crater area of Mars has evidence of past and present habitable environments. The Canadian instrument will enable the rover to determine the chemical composition of the rocks and soil on Mars.

NASA elaborates that Curiosity is on track for a scheduled landing.

“The Mars Science Laboratory continues its final preparations for entry, descent and landing this upcoming weekend.”

NASA further adds: “Yesterday, the flight team completed and confirmed a memory test on the software for the mechanical assembly that controls MSL's descent motor.”

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/nasa-uses-canadian-technology-on-mars-extraterrestrial-mission?cid=db_articles