NASA officials were preparing to broadcast live in Times Square the landing of the Mars rover Curiosity from late Sunday until early Monday.

On Sunday, the rover was on final descent to the red planet, and NASA officials were bracing for what they called the "seven minutes of terror" before landing.

The spacecraft carrying the rover was scheduled to fly through the Martian atmosphere, set off a parachute and use rockets to maneuver toward the surface.

The rover then would need to be lowered to the ground on a tether.

Curiosity was set to land on Mars at 1:30 a.m. Monday. It is the third rover sent to Mars, following Spirit and Opportunity.

The landing was scheduled to be broadcast live in Times Square from 11:30 p.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday.