Curiosity has landed on Mars surface.

[K7SGJ]

I find this absolutely amazing. The 11 year concept to landing boggles the mind. I can't seem to find my way across town, and here they have implemented the technology necessary to land a scientific SUV on a planet far far away. The pix I've seen so far are incredible. I can hardly wait to see more, and am really anxious to see what kind of discoveries this robotic lab makes. Plus, the girl in the background is kinda cute.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-mars-rover-curiosity-lands-safely-20120806,0,415082.story


(http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-mars-rover-curiosity-lands-safely-20120806,0,415082.story)

[KB3LAZ]

I find this absolutely amazing. The 11 year concept to landing boggles the mind. I can't seem to find my way across town, and here they have implemented the technology necessary to land a scientific SUV on a planet far far away. The pix I've seen so far are incredible. I can hardly wait to see more, and am really anxious to see what kind of discoveries this robotic lab makes. Plus, the girl in the background is kinda cute.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-mars-rover-curiosity-lands-safely-20120806,0,415082.story


(http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-mars-rover-curiosity-lands-safely-20120806,0,415082.story)

o0 an SUV?? They should be using a hybrid.

[N1LAF]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/msl5.html

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-231

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html

[PA5COR]

Congrats for NASA and you guy's and gal's.
Some Dutch engineering also went into the lander, let's hope it will be more as 2 years use. ;)

[KC2UGV]

Here's to hoping they find microbes!

[K8LET]

I just can't believe that the fucking Sky Crane worked without a hitch. Seemed so.. Rube Goldbergian.

Science. Fuck. YEAH!

http://i.imgur.com/B8mDT.gif

[K7SGJ]

Watching the animated video of how it was to enter the Mars atmosphere, deploy the chute, thrusters, and all of that was really cool. It's just amazing that the thing was able to land and deploy safely, much less get there intact.

[N8YX]

Here's to hoping they find microbes!
A lot of folks are questioning the wisdom of funding space exploration in this economic climate...but some day we're going to have to get off this rock. And when we seek out other places upon which to settle it would be advantageous to possess some data on the native flora and fauna - should any exist.

[N8YX]

Watching the animated video of how it was to enter the Mars atmosphere, deploy the chute, thrusters, and all of that was really cool. It's just amazing that the thing was able to land and deploy safely, much less get there intact.
Martians will have it up on blocks with the wheels stripped within a week.

[KB3LAZ]

A lot of folks are questioning the wisdom of funding space exploration in this economic climate...but some day we're going to have to get off this rock. And when we seek out other places upon which to settle it would be advantageous to possess some data on the native flora and fauna - should any exist.

I just dont understand how we bitch about people using cars that get low MPG yet we send rockets into space...Cuz you know, they run off of water and all that..lol.

[K7SGJ]

Martians will have it up on blocks with the wheels stripped within a week.

Don't be silly. There aren't any blocks on Mars. According to the Venutions, any way. When I was little, I saw a documentary on that. I think it was hosted by Rod Serling.

[W1GUH]

Oh Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!

I hope that Space Cat isn't there anymore....you know what Curiosity did....

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MpzJPDtlL._SL500_.jpg

And sitting on a mushroom, even.....Space Cat was very cool. Well, at least to third graders -- that's one of my favorite childhood books. He also Visited Venus....and had Kittens. Oops....guess Space cat was a female. Beetter order that book and refresh my memory.


....well, that won't happen. Price on Amazon starts at about $180!!

[W1GUH]

A lot of folks are questioning the wisdom of funding space exploration in this economic climate...but some day we're going to have to get off this rock. And when we seek out other places upon which to settle it would be advantageous to possess some data on the native flora and fauna - should any exist.

"...but some day we're going to have to get off this rock."

Yea, well, first we gotta figure out how to survive here before that technology's developed. By then, Cape Canaveral will probably be under water...and China might own space. Details...details!!!

But this shit's fascinating. Looking forward to seeing some pix and the reaction to them.

[KG4CGC]

A lot of folks are questioning the wisdom of funding space exploration in this economic climate...but some day we're going to have to get off this rock. And when we seek out other places upon which to settle it would be advantageous to possess some data on the native flora and fauna - should any exist.

Who says that we would have to go that far for now? Recycle the space junk and build orbiting cities, geosynchronous or other. Seriously, once all that is up and running, build some kind of space roomba to collect all the damn debris floating around.

[KG4CGC]

Oh Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!

<snip> Price on Amazon starts at about $180!!
Some sort of defacto censorship against everyone but those wealthy enough to spring 180 for such a book. It doesn't even contain reference material or an index and glossary.

[W1GUH]

Some sort of defacto censorship against everyone but those wealthy enough to spring 180 for such a book. It doesn't even contain reference material or an index and glossary.

It's for the children.

[N8YX]

Who says that we would have to go that far for now? Recycle the space junk and build orbiting cities, geosynchronous or other. Seriously, once all that is up and running, build some kind of space roomba to collect all the damn debris floating around.
There isn't enough usable space junk to build much of anything...and you've overlooked the gravity-well problem.

[K7SGJ]

There isn't enough usable space junk to build much of anything...and you've overlooked the gravity-well problem.

WHAT? Now we have a gravity well problem, damn, what's next?

[N8YX]

WHAT? Now we have a gravity well problem, damn, what's next?
Hint: It's better to STAY up from a fuel and resources perspective than it is to continually return to the surface. Out in the asteroid belt lurks an absolute wealth of raw material, and Mars should be viewed as a stepping stone to it - rather than as the end of a journey. It'll take multiple lifetimes and the cooperation of the entire planet to accomplish...but it is a worthy goal.

For your evening's reading, I suggest "The Crucible of Time". Puts things in pretty good context. As a species, we've been damned lucky thus far where cosmic bullets are concerned.

[W1GUH]

There isn't enough usable space junk to build much of anything...and you've overlooked the gravity-well problem.

Maybe it's not "usable" - but there IS a vast amount of space junk. Hell, send up a good home-brewer & HE (or SHE) will know how to jury-rig that junk into something usable!

Send lots of duck tape.

[K7SGJ]

Maybe it's not "usable" - but there IS a vast amount of space junk. Hell, send up a good home-brewer & HE (or SHE) will know how to jury-rig that junk into something usable!

Send lots of duck tape.

Are you kidding? Pat's trying to fiqure out how to squeeze all that stuff in his garage. And I believe he can do it.

[KG4CGC]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/bebop5/71cc42db.jpg

[N8YX]

Maybe it's not "usable" - but there IS a vast amount of space junk. Hell, send up a good home-brewer & HE (or SHE) will know how to jury-rig that junk into something usable!

Send lots of duck tape.
Where are the smelters, vacuum forming facilities and manufacturing equipment to turn it all into a construct such as a space station?

There's actually a lot less mass in the form of space debris in orbit around the Earth than one might think. Granted, there are a large (~8,000) number of trackable, man-made objects within the space defined by the Van Allen Belt - but some are as small as a BB. Most heavier, low-orbit constructs tend to re-enter our atmosphere fairly soon after launch. Those in a geostationary orbit tend to persist but are more costly from a fuel standpoint to reach.

The ideal scenario for a space-based fabrication effort would consist of identifying a periodic NEO whose metallicity was correct for use as a raw materials source, nudging it into orbit then mining it in situ. This is by no means an easy task, but is the most economical by far.

[KG4CGC]

There isn't enough usable space junk to build much of anything...and you've overlooked the gravity-well problem.

Well, what I was trying to say but did so, so ineloquently, was, NOT build space cities OUT OF space junk but once it was up and running to collect the shit out of the area. Gravity? Two guitar pick ups and a generator, problem solved.

[N8YX]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/bebop5/71cc42db.jpg
Needs moar "Bush on an oil-drilling rig". ;)

[KG4CGC]

Needs moar "Bush on an oil-drilling rig". ;)

Oh! You said the magic word!

Is there oil on Mars?
If so, it proves my theory.

[K8LET]

Oh! You said the magic word!

Is there oil on Mars?
If so, it proves my theory.

It's never been about oil, that's the big secret. It's actually about sand. The middle east, what does it have more of than oil? Sand! Mars? FULL OF SAND!

[KG4CGC]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/bebop5/Aliens%20Guy/336005c2.jpg

[N8YX]

Mars?

"Oh my God...it's FULL OF SAND!"

6712

[K8LET]

http://www.dorktower.com/files/2012/08/DorkTower1098.gif

[W1GUH]

Where are the smelters, vacuum forming facilities and manufacturing equipment to turn it all into a construct such as a space station?

There's actually a lot less mass in the form of space debris in orbit around the Earth than one might think. Granted, there are a large (~8,000) number of trackable, man-made objects within the space defined by the Van Allen Belt - but some are as small as a BB. Most heavier, low-orbit constructs tend to re-enter our atmosphere fairly soon after launch. Those in a geostationary orbit tend to persist but are more costly from a fuel standpoint to reach.

The ideal scenario for a space-based fabrication effort would consist of identifying a periodic NEO whose metallicity was correct for use as a raw materials source, nudging it into orbit then mining it in situ. This is by no means an easy task, but is the most economical by far.

Who needs 'em? Just duck tape everything together...sorta like a homeless encampment.

[W5GA]

Who needs 'em? Just duck tape everything together...sorta like a homeless encampment.
Paul, that's DUCT tape, not duck tape.

[n2ize]

Uh oh.... Wait till the conspiracy theorists start getting a hold of these images and start zooming in on the towns and cities that are up there.

[n2ize]

One good reason why we should stay the heck away from Mars...

http://exclamationmark.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/angry-red-planet.jpg

[NA4BH]

It's a movie stage.

[N8YX]

One good reason why we should stay the heck away from Mars...

http://exclamationmark.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/angry-red-planet.jpg
Once upon a time I hit something which looked a lot like that whilst riding my two-wheeler.

Might have played in their band, too.

[N7YA]

Paul, that's DUCT tape, not duck tape.

6716

[W1GUH]

6716

Ahem.....thank you!

[KB3LAZ]

Lol, I was thinking the same though..it is Duck tape brand Duct tape.

[W1GUH]

Uh oh.... Wait till the conspiracy theorists start getting a hold of these images and start zooming in on the towns and cities that are up there.

Why wait?

There are two things you can bet the farm on....

1) NASA/JPL will not release any image that they deem "too close" for comfort wrt what you're saying, and if they happen to miss one, they will lie through their teeth about it.

2) The sky will be falsely colored red. (It's actually blue.)

I've posted where you can find solid evidence of the above many times but but it seems that this concept is so disturbing to some that they simply refuse to look at it.



Have fun!

[ab1ga]

Lol, I was thinking the same though..it is Duck tape brand Duct tape.

Some may call it duct tape, but try using it on a duct and see how well it works.

73,

[KG4NEL]

Never have used it on a duct... :-D

[HUGH]

Speaking of debris, I wonder if any extra-terrestrials have either abandoned or dumped their unwanted stuff there?

[KG4CGC]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/bebop5/Aliens%20Guy/af51b5e9.jpg

[N8YX]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/bebop5/Aliens%20Guy/af51b5e9.jpg

I'd be careful if I was driving those. Sandworms may get 'em.

[W5GA]

But they must find the Spice!

[N7YA]

Those damn leftie, rock-huggin' Fremen always crying and whining "Save Arachis! Save Arachis!"....waaaaaaaah!

[W7XF]

Houston, we found something new on Mars...

6732

[ab1ga]

At least it's not the rat from "Ice Age", or the pig on a zip line.

[kf0rt]

At least it's not the rat from "Ice Age", or the pig on a zip line.

Although... If we took a vote on sending the pig to Mars...

[K7SGJ]

Although... If we took a vote on sending the pig to Mars...

Count me in, and I can probably get a bunch of votes from the dead, as well.

BTW here are some news & pix from Mars. It's amazing they can control the thing, send data back and forth, and get such neat photos, all on 27.185 MHz.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h2wmBQe-UWOtiytxtnBfhiL3GEaA?docId=7e7fe4dd1f584ad4a1719fd 0140ff8e5&index=4

[PA5COR]

Roger ( beep)

[K8LET]

This video gave me goosebumps


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

[K7SGJ]

Yeah, that's the one I was talking about. When I watch that vid, I just can't get my mind around all of the successful technology it took to pull this off. Absolutely amazing.

[N7YA]

This far surpasses any Olympic drama, political crap, etc, etc, in my book. This surpasses flags and boundries....in my world. Im happy and proud of the folks who put this together, i'm excited to see what they find.

[KG4CGC]

I'd be excited, I was, until I heard that they will be moving this vehicle at a rate of 1 meter per hour.

[K7SGJ]

Well, it went a long way, and we wouldn't want to miss anything. Might find an Indian head penny or something.

[KG4CGC]

Well, it went a long way, and we wouldn't want to miss anything. Might find an Indian head penny or something.

We could change the evolution of Venus by sending a probe that contained a single bacteria. One day, Venus will be in the orbital position that our Earth is now in as was Mars in a loooooooooong time ago.

[kb2vxa]

"Might find an Indian head penny or something."
Might find Ray Bradbury.

[K7SGJ]

Hell I hope they find him up there, and he is still writting. Haven't really found a good scifi book that held my interests quit like his did.

[VE7DCW]

It's a movie stage.

Actually it's a couple of movie stages down the block where thet did the moon landings...... :agree:

[K7SGJ]

Damn, that's like throwing a damaged US Flag into the composter.

[kf0rt]

Interesting articles about the cameras on Curiosity:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/07/NASA-Curiosity-Rover-sends-back-first-color-images-from-Mars
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/08/Curiosity-interview-with-Malin-Space-Science-Systems-Mike-Ravine

ETA: another link

[K7SGJ]

Interesting articles about the cameras on Curiosity:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/07/NASA-Curiosity-Rover-sends-back-first-color-images-from-Mars
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/08/Curiosity-interview-with-Malin-Space-Science-Systems-Mike-Ravine

ETA: another link

It is truly mind boggling all the technology that had to be tied together to make the whole thing work. I wonder how many many hours were involved from start to now. Just think, one dropped bit and the whole thing could have augured into the surface, burnt up on entry, or have been sent racing toward Uranus.

[kb2vxa]

OOOoooh, that could hurt!

[NQ6U]

Interesting articles about the cameras on Curiosity:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/07/NASA-Curiosity-Rover-sends-back-first-color-images-from-Mars
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/08/08/Curiosity-interview-with-Malin-Space-Science-Systems-Mike-Ravine

ETA: another link

Made right here in San Diego, BTW.