Curiosity Rover's Risky Mars Landing

[Gompers]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2I8AoB1xgU

Have watched this video a couple times and am impressed every time. Just wanted to share to those of you who haven't seen it yet.

[Gompers]

Just wanted to bump this thread to remind anyone interested that Curiosity is set to land a little more than a day from now - estimated time of touchdown: 10:31 PDT August 5th, 2012.

From NASA's webpage:


Curiosity remains in good health, with all systems operating as expected. Given the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft's consistent and stable course, today the project decided that the planned Trajectory Correction Maneuver 5 (TCM-5) and its corresponding update to parameters for the autonomous software controlling events during entry, descent and landing will not be necessary. As of 12:35 p.m. today PDT (3:35 p.m. EDT), the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft was approximately 468,000 miles (753,200 kilometers) from Mars, or a little less than twice the distance from Earth to the moon. It is traveling at about 8,000 mph (3,576 meters per second). It will gradually increase in speed to about 13,200 mph (5,900 meters per second) by the time it reaches the top of the Martian atmosphere.

For those of you familiar with the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, here is a size comparison.

http://wordpress.mrreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/rover-size-comparison.jpg
Twin Rovers Spirit and Opportunity on the left, and Curiosity on the right.

[WRoss]

Hmm. I always thought the rovers were much larger than that.

[AbnInfamy]

that picture makes them look incredibly small.

this has video of people standing next to it.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#/video/us/2012/08/03/tsr-zarrella-curiosity-mission.cnn

[Gompers]

Hmm. I always thought the rovers were much larger than that.

Curiosity is actually quite big...

Size: About the size of a car -- 10 feet long (not including the arm), 9 feet wide and 7 feet tall
Weight: 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds)

Here is a link to watch video feed from Curiosity when/if it lands successfully:

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

[WRoss]

Curiosity is actually quite big...

Size: About the size of a car -- 10 feet long (not including the arm), 9 feet wide and 7 feet tall
Weight: 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds)

Here is a link to watch video feed from Curiosity when/if it lands successfully:

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

I think the photo was a bit misleading. Here's a link to a livestream app thingy that NASA made:
http://eyes.nasa.gov/

[jpatter123]

I think the photo was a bit misleading. Here's a link to a livestream app thingy that NASA made:
http://eyes.nasa.gov/

thank you

[Androidpk]

Woo!

[Revalos]

Man, the delay from the simulation kept getting me confused. I still can't believe the fucking skycrane worked.

[Back]

And the gold medal for Mars rover landing goes to the USA!

[Stanley Burrell]

Holy fucking shit. Nuclear blimps and mechs + a cyborg version of that dog the U.S.S.R. sent into space. Like, biting my pineal gland as the red dust enters my optical.

[Androidpk]

Time to land some humans up on that red bitch.

[Stanley Burrell]

Also, that (car commercial?) where they're playing House of Pain's "Jump Around" came to mind.

Edit: And no one's said it, so I'll be the better man:

Time to put some humans on that red bitch.

[diethx]

2 pictures and 20 minutes of people hugging. lol

[gs4-PauperSid]

That whole skycrane concept was a tad more complex than the bouncing ball airbag technique last time.

[Makkah]

Very cool. Multiple nerdgasms.

[Fallen]

NASA really needed this landing to go smoothly. Hopefully, this is enough to draw people's attention back towards space exploration.

[Parkbandit]

NASA really needed this landing to go smoothly. Hopefully, this is enough to draw people's attention back towards space exploration.

I am ALL about space exploration... but paying for it should be pushed over to the private sector. The government is bankrupt.

[Fallen]

I am ALL about space exploration... but paying for it should be pushed over to the private sector. The government is bankrupt.

We can't simply give up on government funding of science and technology. It is the future of our exports industry. I agree that involving the private sector is vital to the future of space exploration, but there has to be funding behind projects that might not realize a healthy return, yet are still important advancements in scientific knowledge. Hell, I wouldn't mind shifting a good deal of military spending over to NASA, or the complete militarization of our space program. At least then it will always be overfunded.

[Parkbandit]

We can't simply give up on government funding of science and technology. It is future of our exports industry. I agree that involving the private sector is vital to the future of space exploration, but there has to be funding behind projects that might not realize a healthy return, yet are still important advancements in scientific knowledge. Hell, I wouldn't mind shifting a good deal of military spending over to NASA, or the complete militarization of our space program. At least then it will always be overfunded.

I'm not suggesting defunding NASA entirely, I'm saying that our government is bankrupt and until we figure out how to get onto a responsible fiscal path, we should hold off on any very expensive missions (like a manned Mars landing) until we can actually afford it.

Mars can wait.

[Back]

I'm not suggesting defunding NASA entirely, I'm saying that our government is bankrupt and until we figure out how to get onto a responsible fiscal path, we should hold off on any very expensive missions (like a manned Mars landing) until we can actually afford it.

Mars can wait.

I don't think we need more ways to put tax dollar money into the hands of people who do not pay their fair share of taxes or who outright do not pay them at all.

[Parkbandit]

I don't think we need more ways to put tax dollar money into the hands of people who do not pay their fair share of taxes or who outright do not pay them at all.

Whaaa? Are you even in the right thread?

Is today "Post in the wrong thread" Day... or are you making no sense because you honestly don't know any better?

[Some Rogue]

3843


I KNEW IT!

[Back]

Whaaa? Are you even in the right thread?

Is today "Post in the wrong thread" Day... or are you making no sense because you honestly don't know any better?

Dang it. You got me with your polititrolling. Gratz on turning this thread into another of your right wing propaganda fests.

[Parkbandit]

Dang it. You got me with your polititrolling. Gratz on turning this thread into another of your right wing propaganda fests.

Ok?

You are an example of my inner leftist... since I believe we have an obligation to take care of those who can't take care of themselves due to mental disabilities.

[Atlanteax]

Dang it. You got me with your polititrolling. Gratz on turning this thread into another of your right wing propaganda fests.

YOU did it with the quip about not paying people-who-are-already-rich (incidentally because they are responsible for creating/managing good product) more money to fund a manned Mars landing.

[Back]

NOYOU||!||!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Delias]

NOYOU||!||!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

You know, I often find it easy to disagree with PB... but you really do seem to be the exact sort of moron he makes you out to be.

[Back]

Shot of Curiosity parachuting to the surface from the Mars Reconnaissance orbiter.

http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal05/2012/8/6/12/enhanced-buzz-30519-1344268933-13.jpg

[Archigeek]

I think it's an spectacular technical feat, and the engineers and scientists who worked it all out deserve a lot of praise. Hopefully it pays off with loads of valuable information about the red planet.

[Gompers]

http://3.cdn.tapcdn.com/images/thumbs/taps/2012/08/bad-luck-curiosity-rover-sticks-the-landing-no-olympic-medal-637f9445-sz500x353-animate.jpg

[diethx]

2 pictures and 20 minutes of people hugging. lol

SR, was that you who left me that rep? Damn you for not signing it. lol

[Androidpk]

I think it's an spectacular technical feat, and the engineers and scientists who worked it all out deserve a lot of praise. Hopefully it pays off with loads of valuable information about the red planet.

Even the trip to the planet itself will pay off. They did a lot of measurements on the amounts of radiation someone travelling to the planet would face.

[Back]

Heat shield impact.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crnhjnpgTTo&feature=player_embedded

[Back]

Powered landing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fb8RPbLU9cU