Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) landing
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@tig said:
Two thirds of the Mars missions have ended in disaster, so this one might work... even if only because it has some really 'bonkers engineering' - I still don't fully understand why if you can hover a spacecraft just a few tens of metres above the surface to lower a vehicle by crane... you couldn't just land and then lower it the last few metres onto the surface ? I'm sure there's a good reason
I will be watching...
If 'the Martians' switch this one off just after it lands we shouldn't blame them - it does have an on board nuclear reactor !
In the 70's we had two RTGs. They were tested at terminal velocity earth impacts to make sure possible contamination was avoided.
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Sorry I don't mean to start some fight. "lacks behind most other nations" sort of got me going. Not meant to be jingoistic. Just seemed unfair (to those people in that control room at the least).
So many from all countries have been working towards these goals, and there have been many failures and accomplishments on all sides. Witness that if USA wants to send astronauts to the ISS these days, they go with the Russians. It's about collaboration now.
P.S. And I should note: USSR Mars 3 was the first successful landing on Mars(1971).
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@pbacot said:
@martink said:
It would be nice if things like this got more sustained coverage in the mainstream media; it might help get the younger generation more interested in math and science, areas in which the USA lacks behind most other nations.
Yep, the USA have been having trouble keeping up with the rest of the countries who have gone to Mars...
Seriously I know what you mean in regards to education, but I think it would take a lot more than that. I am sure teachers hold up these examples all the time.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant to say that American students seem to be behind in areas of math and science when compared to those in many other countries, i.e. Japan, Germany, China, Finland, etc.
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@pbacot said:
Sorry I don't mean to start some fight. "lacks behind most other nations" sort of got me going. Not meant to be jingoistic. Just seemed unfair (to those people in that control room at the least).
So many from all countries have been working towards these goals, and there have been many failures and accomplishments on all sides. Witness that if USA wants to send astronauts to the ISS these days, they go with the Russians. It's about collaboration now.
P.S. And I should note: USSR Mars 3 was the first successful landing on Mars(1971).
You are correct. Age and memory not what it used to be. We were trying to land Jul 4 76 but mapping of landing site delayed and we missed that date. VL_A presently at 22.46 Degs North, 48.01 degs West, the second VL-B is at 47.86 degs north , 225.77 degs West.
VL-A launch 252:18:32 75 Landed 5:12 AM PDT July 20 76 and VL-B Launched 232:18:39 75 Landed 3:58 PDT Sept 3 76
USSR many times had early faliures -
Don't get me wrong. I am an American and at times like this, a very proud one. I have been an avid follower of everything NASA and a great admirer of all those involved with the various projects, including all the partners from various other countries contributing both hardware and personnel. I think NASA, for the most part, is a great example of what humankind is truly capable of for the betterment of human knowledge and mankind in general. I would much rather more money go to funding NASA and other scientific endeavors than funding wars and the military industrial complex. Having had a son go through the public school system, at one of the top high schools in my state, I am well aware of what is taught and how it is taught. I don't have a ready answer to solve the problem; I only know it is one we need to solve. Attached is an interesting article from 2012.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/09/opinion/bennett-stem-education/index.html -
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Way to go, NASA. I saw the complexity of the landing sequence and wondered what the heck they were thinking, but it worked OK!
Can't wait to see more images and the results of any analysis they do.
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Hey 8-year-old me, I just watched NASA land a giant rover on Mars on my wireless pocket computer. You’re going to like it here in the future.
Just think how many kids around the world this will inspire. I hope I'm alive to see them do even greater things.
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@o2bwln said:
Hey 8-year-old me, I just watched NASA land a giant rover on Mars on my wireless pocket computer. You’re going to like it here in the future.
I sat at home in Northern Ireland as my iPhone wirelessly streamed live HD footage from California? to my AppleTV which is hooked up to my 40" LCD whilst I had my MacBook running the Eyes on the Solar System app on the Coffee table and finally I was following the MSL thread on the NASA Spaceflight forum on my iPad.
In 1985 I was using a PR1ME mini computer with a 512Kb 14" removable hard disk that was in a drive as big as a dish washer networked to dumb terminals over RS232?
Me:
"Hey 20-year old me I just watched NASA land a giant rover on Mars on my wireless pocket computer, a 40" flat TV, A Laptop Computer and a slate straight out of 2001. You’re going to like it here in the future."20-year old me:
Feck off you weirdo, your old and you smell. -
Hey 8 year old me: millions of people watched NASA land a giant rover on Mars over their wireless hand held devices and you went to bed early because you forgot when it was going to be broadcast. Pay attention you little twit.
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Hey 8 year old me - I had to go to bed early and didn't get to watch it because I had to wake up at 04:15 for work. Find a job that doesn't make you do that!
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