Mars Project Faces Technical Problems

This undated artist drawing released by NASA shows the Mars Science Laboratory, a mobile robot for investigating Mars' past or present ability to sustain microbial life. The mission to land a nuclear-powered, next-generation rover on Mars is facing development problems and ballooning costs that could threaten its scheduled launch next year. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told a congressional hearing this month that engineers had to redesign the heat shield on the Mars Science Laboratory after tests showed the protective layer would not survive entry through the Martian atmosphere. (AP Photo/NASA)