FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 16, 2012

NASA video and app build excitement about tricky spacecraft landing on Mars

Can you find coverage about other airborne travel of any kind?

Now look for more science-related news, which can include medicine or meteorology (weather).

See if you spot a report on another video drawing attention, including an entertainment or political campaign clip.

A popular new YouTube video with "Seven Minutes of Terror" in its title has thumping music, suspenseful narration, slick graphics and the style of a film preview. It promotes a real-life space mission with movie-like drama. The five-minute clip from NASA (embedded below) describes what will happen early next month when a one-ton spacecraft reaches Mars. "If any one thing doesn't work just right, it's game over," an engineer says.

The snazzy video shows a bold new direction by NASA as it uses social media to whip up interest in space exploration during this post-shuttle era. The government agency also introduced a free Spacecraft 3D application for iPhone and iPad users. Animation shows how three spacecraft maneuver, as well as how their landing "legs" and sample-grabbing "arms" work.

The new video, viewed more than 653,000 times since June 22, and the Spacecraft 3D app show the Mars rover named Curiosity. It was launched in November and is scheduled to reach Mars on Aug. 5. The ultra-tricky landing process involves a heat shield, parachute, rocket engines and a hovering crane that lowers the rover to the surface.

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., won't know whether it worked for 14 tense minutes as the craft’s radio signals travel 150 million miles. The $2.5-billion mission aims to see if the building blocks of life existed on the red planet long, long ago. Updates are posted on Twitter, where @MarsCuriosity has nearly 113,000 followers -- including many students and teachers.

NASA says: "It's going to be an emotional evening, one way or the other," on Aug. 5. -- Veronica McGregor, Jet Propulsion Laboratory team member

Blogger says: "Looking at the video and NASA's hyper-realistic simulation showing how the mechanism actually floats, lowers the rover, and then flies away, I still can't believe it." -- Jesus Diaz of gizmodo.com, June 22

Journalist says: "The video has succeeded in an area where NASA has a mixed track record: using social media and other tools of the 21st century to whip up interest in space exploration." -- Kenneth Chang, New York Times, July 10

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.