MSL Remains on Track for Weekend Landing

Curiosity remains in good health, with no significant issues currently in work. There are no real-time activities planned.

The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft remains on a consistent and stable course, well within the limits required to reach its target landing ellipse.

As a result, yesterday the flight team decided to cancel the build and test of a contingency version of Trajectory Correction Maneuver 5.

This contingency manuever, had it been needed, would have been used in the event an emergency prevented the team from executing the nominal scheduled TCM-5 maneuver, which is planned for Friday, Aug. 3, if needed.

The project also canceled a corresponding update to parameters for the autonomous software controlling events during entry, descent and landing.