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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → Curiosity on Mars
Curiosity on Mars
2012-08-05, 9:39 PM #1
Who all is following it?

Here's where I'm currently watching:
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/mars/curiosity_news3.html

Sadly, I might have to sleep before I get to see anything fun.
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2012-08-05, 10:20 PM #2
Originally posted by Gebohq:
Who all is following it?

Here's where I'm currently watching:
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/mars/curiosity_news3.html

Sadly, I might have to sleep before I get to see anything fun.


watching now... look at these nerditrons

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/nasatv/
2012-08-05, 10:43 PM #3


WE'RE ON MARS, BABY!
2012-08-06, 12:50 AM #4
This is great and all... I guess.

To be honest, ever since the Pathfinder mission in 1996 or 1997 or so, I've only waited for the moment when I could go to Mars. Realizing that it won't happen in my lifetime (or even in two-five lifetimes), well, I'll be the first one to say it. MEH.

(Yet still [the distance from Earth to Mars in centimeters] times more interesting than the Olympics)

Besides, I've already been to Mars

[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/garosaon/detsnoar.jpg]
Star Wars: TODOA | DXN - Deus Ex: Nihilum
2012-08-06, 7:19 AM #5
inb4 the usual "the money should have gone to poor people in Africa."
SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
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2012-08-06, 8:08 AM #6
£5 says it runs over the elusive Mars cat.
nope.
2012-08-06, 8:32 AM #7
Originally posted by ECHOMAN:
inb4 the usual "the money should have gone to poor people in Africa."

To whom I would simply point at this letter from Ernst Stuhlinger in 1970: Why Explore Space?

I didn't know the stuff about the Russians ceasing radio transmissions during the Apollo 13 re-entry, very poignant.
<spe> maevie - proving dykes can't fly

<Dor> You're levelling up and gaining more polys!
2012-08-06, 8:46 AM #8
Originally posted by ECHOMAN:
inb4 the usual "the money should have gone to poor people in Africa."


This would be wrong mostly because food dumping is causing enough problems as it is.
2012-08-06, 5:15 PM #9
Originally posted by Baconfish:
£5 says it runs over the elusive Mars cat.


Very funny you god damned yokel!
2012-08-06, 5:40 PM #10


Can't wait to get some color photos and video!
"Honey, you got real ugly."
2012-08-06, 6:06 PM #11
Sorry, don't know how to play this video :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGMDXy-Y1I

Curiosity's view of the descent to the ground.

note how fast the heat shield is going right as the clip starts.
Snail racing: (500 posts per line)------@%
2012-08-07, 1:45 PM #12
When I first saw the animation on how this whole landing procedure was supposed to work I thought W....T....F.......no way this works. That was some crazy **** that they pulled off and I'm really proud. Now I can't wait to see some results.
2012-08-07, 2:16 PM #13
[http://www.massassi.net/etc/mars.jpg]
Star Wars: TODOA | DXN - Deus Ex: Nihilum
2012-08-08, 4:15 AM #14
Oh hey it's Ubuu!
nope.
2012-08-08, 2:39 PM #15
I see solar panels.
2012-08-08, 2:52 PM #16
Martians are known to be black.
2012-08-08, 5:25 PM #17
I see dirt.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2012-08-08, 5:25 PM #18
Originally posted by Emon:
I see dirt.

What an amazing and valuable post you have made. It contributes a lot to the discussion.
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2012-08-08, 5:37 PM #19
uhoh, someone got Emon's password!
COUCHMAN IS BACK BABY
2012-08-08, 5:53 PM #20
Originally posted by Emon:
What an amazing and valuable post you have made. It contributes a lot to the discussion.


Curiosity has no solar panels.
2012-08-08, 6:29 PM #21
Originally posted by Emon:
What an amazing and valuable post you have made. It contributes a lot to the discussion.


The observation of dirt on Mars is in fact an amazing and valuable one, since it was dirt that impaired the solar panels of previous rovers, explaining their absence Curiosity's design (Curiosity is powered by plutonium-238).
2012-08-08, 7:09 PM #22
Does anyone know how long it can theoretically keep going before it breaks or runs out of power?
"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009
2012-08-08, 7:13 PM #23
It uses a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. Check out this:

Originally posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator:
Most RTGs use [SUP]238[/SUP] Pu, which decays with a half-life of 87.7 years. RTGs using this material will therefore diminish in power output by 0.787% of their capacity per year. 23 years after production, such an RTG will have decreased in power by 16.6%, i.e. providing 83.4% of its initial output.





2012-08-08, 11:06 PM #24
so this one could conceivably keep going for decades? that is actually pretty awesome.
Welcome to the douchebag club. We'd give you some cookies, but some douche ate all of them. -Rob
2012-08-09, 6:00 AM #25
Originally posted by Darth_Alran:
so this one could conceivably keep going for decades? that is actually pretty awesome.


Yes. In fact, RTG is what is powering the Voyager satellites (and will presumably continue to do so until as far as 2025, depending on power limits). Depending on how much extra room they gave themselves, it'll probably be at least a decade before they even have to start disabling science equipment (as they have on the Voyager satellites. Much of the original hardware has been shut down to keep it talking with Earth).
2012-08-09, 12:28 PM #26
It's a 1-ton mobile laboratory.

I, for one, welcome our future of probes and drones!
SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
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2012-08-09, 12:33 PM #27
Here is real color footage taken by Curiosity (low-resolution, panoramic):
[http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/pia16029_Malin-34_MCAML_360_mosaic_autolevels-br2.jpg]
2012-08-09, 12:37 PM #28
That skybox is horrible. Not too keen on the rock texture either.
Star Wars: TODOA | DXN - Deus Ex: Nihilum
2012-08-09, 12:39 PM #29
Originally posted by Cool Matty:
Yes. In fact, RTG is what is powering the Voyager satellites (and will presumably continue to do so until as far as 2025, depending on power limits). Depending on how much extra room they gave themselves, it'll probably be at least a decade before they even have to start disabling science equipment (as they have on the Voyager satellites. Much of the original hardware has been shut down to keep it talking with Earth).


It always amazes me how pieces of technology from the 1970s are still going somewhere in the dark void of space.
SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
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2012-08-09, 1:14 PM #30
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/instruments/

They are going all out in checking the place out for life hospitality, past and present!
2012-08-10, 4:47 AM #31
Originally posted by ECHOMAN:
It always amazes me how pieces of technology from the 1970s are still going somewhere in the dark void of space.


Yeah but some of them are filled with evil Kryptonians.
nope.

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