CRANE ACCIDENT: NASA to Pursue Mars Launch after Crane Accident

May 26, 2011

Los Angeles-- NASA will still pursue its plans to launch rover "Curiosity" even after a crane accident at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Florida last week.

During a launch rehearsal, the crane operator mistakenly lifted the rover's back shell while it was still attached to a table. Scientists checked potential damage because the back shell was not designed to endure additional weight, reports said.

According to reports, NASA engineers found the back shell in good condition despite the accident. Curiosity is scheduled to launch in November 2011 and land on Mars in summer 2012. The project aims to discover whether Mars can sustain primitive life.