Curiosity Rover

[summilux]

Now this is an engineering! I am in awe of these JPL guys and gals.

[Mabouya]

I think it will be a semi-miracle if they get that thing down in one piece.

Lots of drama next Monday.

[summilux]

An article I read quoted the lead engineer as saying they predicted a 95% chance of success but said that the problem with all disaster simulations was (to paraphrase) "our lack of imagination about how things can fail".

[Honus]

I can't wait to see if it arrives safe and sound- that will be an incredible achievement. It's an incredibly complex delivery system but I have faith they'll pull it off.

You can watch it live on NASA's Ustream- http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[Noteddy]

I too, am fascinated with everything about these robots. Odds are against success, about 23/17 by my count. Recent US efforts have done much better, Though I really admire the relative simplicity of the spirit/opportunity missions. Would rather see more of those "cheaper" missions. Cheap and fast sometimes forces more creativity.

I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear.

[Mabouya]

Though I really admire the relative simplicity of the spirit/opportunity missions. Would rather see more of those "cheaper" missions. Cheap and fast sometimes forces more creativity.

True.

But what I think would be THE ultimate would be a Mars sample return to earth. We keep sending these mini-labs over. Often they raise more questions than they answer. What's the crossover point between increased complexity of a "super-duper unmaned lab on Mars" vs the difficulty of a "robot to drill a few core samples and bring them back"?

[Honus]

The problem with bringing physical samples back is you need a launch vehicle system on Mars. Curiosity has the ability to study core samples and determine material composition and relay it back to Earth.

[Britishbane]

I too am nerding out about this. I'll be here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c...07803962595019 watching with some astronomers, physicists, and others from the JPL.

[summilux]

I'm glad I'm not the only nerd out here. Bringing a sample back would be ideal, but really you'd need a manned mission for that. Yah, that'll cost plenty, but it's pay back in the end.

[quickag]

I'm glad I'm not the only nerd out here. Bringing a sample back would be ideal, but really you'd need a manned mission for that. Yah, that'll cost plenty, but it's pay back in the end.

*raises hand*

I'd do it. Sign me up.

[Mabouya]

Link to NASA site with info and Curiosity Clock countdown timer NASA - Mars Science Laboratory, the Next Mars Rover

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission will deliver the nearly 2,000-pound (1-ton), car-size robotic roving laboratory to the surface of Mars at 10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5 (1:31 a.m. EDT Aug. 6).

[Bob Ross]

That is wicked awesome!

I wonder how many times they've practiced that descent...middle of some Nevada desert perhaps?



"After cutting the rover loose, the descent stage flies away" ...uh, to where?

[Scott G.]

"After cutting the rover loose, the descent stage flies away" ...uh, to where?

These guys get to recycle the crane stage.

[Honus]

Woohoo! Touchdown- they did it! Way to go NASA/JPL!

[Mabouya]

Good for them.

Those guys and gals must be so happy. And proud.

Now on to the science...

[sonny]

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[Too Tall]

J.F.K. is smiling and 1,000,000 schoolchildren just got a shot in the arm.

Thanks for the report.

[Noteddy]

If kids need any reason to study math and science how about a chance to use a rocket powered hover crane to land a laser wielding, nuclear powered rover on Mars and drive it around using a 3D video game?

[Matthew J]

They may have been coming for a couple years now, but every photo from the surface of Mars completely amazes me.

[Bob Ross]

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Every recording artist on the ECM roster must be fighting over who gets to use that as their next CD cover.