Brown professor on Mars rover team

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – A Brown University professor is on the science team of the Mars Science Laboratory which is set to land the rover on the planet early Monday.

Ralph Milliken is an assistant professor of geological sciences at the university.

The Curiosity rover, as it’s called, will be launched on Sunday, and will allow the team to study the rocks and soils of the red planet, if it lands safely.

The biggest hurdle to overcome is the rover’s landing.

The landing is very tricky because the rover will go from travelling 13,000 mph to a complete stop.

Experts say it will be a major technological step forward if it works.

It is expected to capture the first filming of a landing on another planet.