New Milford's McCarthy Observatory Presents Mars Lander Program

NEW MILFORD, CT -- The "Second Saturday Stars" program at the John J. McCarthy Observatory in New Milford continues on August 11 with “The Evolution of Curiosity ‘s Sampling Capability During Operations.”

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover's sampling system has been called the most complex mechanical system ever sent to space. According to Observatory staffer Doug Klein , several anomalies have presented key challenges to the operation of the sampling system.m

Engineers have continuously had to re-design sampling operations to work around mechanical degradation and mitigate new risks. Most recently, Curiosity has resumed drilling using an entirely new technique after a 1.5 year hiatus. On Saturday, the Observatory will give attendees an insider’s account of the complexity of the mission.

The McCarthy Observatory is located behind New Milford High School on Route 7 South. The program runs from 8-10 p.m.

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