Mars Curiosity rover: Nasa mission's search for life clues

3 August 2012 Last updated at 07:52 ET Help

John Grotzinger is Nasa's chief scientist for the Curiosity mission which will seek to land a rover vehicle in the bottom of an enormous crater on Mars.

The Gale crater is more than three billion years old and Nasa hope that tests on the ancient rock strata in this depression will reveal if Mars was ever capable of supporting life.

Curiosity is due to land on Mars at about 06:31 BST (05:31 GMT) on Monday 6 August.

Horizon: Mission to Mars was broadcast on BBC Two Monday 30 July. Watch online via iPlayer (UK only) or browse more Horizon clips at the above link.

Read More

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.