Science Roundup: NASA's probe to touch down in Mars

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

NASA spacecraft near Red Planet on a mission to detect 'marsquakes'

NASA's first robotic lander designed to study the deep interior of a distant world hurtled closer to Mars on course for a planned touchdown on Monday after a six-month voyage through space. Travelling 301 million miles (548 million km) from Earth, the Mars InSight spacecraft was due to reach its destination on the dusty, rock-strewn surface of the Red Planet at about 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).

(With inputs from agencies.)