Mars Science Laboratory and Curiosity Rover, arriving 6 August

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josephhinvest

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#106750 31-Jul-2012 10:12

So who has been following the NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission?

The rover, Curiosity, looks amazing. It's the size of a Mini Cooper, significantly larger than any previous rover.

It is powered by an radioisotope power generator, so it is not reliant on solar power.

There's a heap of resources here and you can follow on twitter for updates, @MarsCuriosity. Wikipedia article here.

The landing system is beyond cool, using a "sky-crane" maneuver, this is a good video, about the much hyped "seven minutes of terror"

Landing is scheduled for approximately 6 days and 7 hrs away at 0531 UTC August 6 (1731 NZT), and will be broadcast live on UStream and NASA TV.

So set a reminder for Monday afternoon, and here's hoping it all goes well!

Cheers,
Joseph

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2degrees

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#664400 31-Jul-2012 10:16

I put a reminder in my calendar for it a couple of months ago. Going to watch the live streams with the kids. Too bad there won't be any cameras on the ground watching the sky crane, that would be awesome.

Having said that they are moving the orbiters so as to be overhead at the time, taking pictures of the descent.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

throbb

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#664409 31-Jul-2012 10:35

Ever since they first decided on the landing system they will be using I have been dreading that it will fail. The are so many things that can go wrong that will just end with a new impact crater on the surface. Surely there must be an easier less complicated way of landing the rover. But hey, I'm not an engineer so what do I know.

sleemanj

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#668409 6-Aug-2012 16:03

Everybody got their popcorn and pepsi, the ustream coverage is under way
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/7419823/Mars-exploration-set-to-begin-for-rover

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James Sleeman
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josephhinvest

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#668412 6-Aug-2012 16:08

I am doing training/observing in my new job, but will be watching (via 2degrees 3G :) )

Napster

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#668426 6-Aug-2012 16:23

Watching the Nasa HD stream

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html

stevenz

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#668475 6-Aug-2012 17:28

"We have a connection but we don't have any data" = Minor heart palpitations.

210000 viewers of the live-feed and climbing. Their bandwidth must be astronomical... (Sorry)

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stevenz

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#668478 6-Aug-2012 17:32

And they just won the superbowl. Amazing stuff.

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sleemanj

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#668479 6-Aug-2012 17:32

TOUCHDOWN!

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sleemanj

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#668481 6-Aug-2012 17:35

Images after 2 minutes!

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nickd

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#668486 6-Aug-2012 17:41

Well that was exciting. Needs more death-rays though.

stevenz

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#668487 6-Aug-2012 17:41

And they have pictures.

Mars

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