QuoteThe Mars Science Laboratory continues its final preparations for entry, descent and landing this upcoming weekend. Yesterday, the flight team completed and confirmed a memory test on the software for the mechanical assembly that controls MSL's descent motor. They also configured the spacecraft for its transition to entry, descent and landing approach mode, and they enabled the spacecraft's hardware pyrotechnic devices. MSL is now under the control of the autonomous entry, descent and landing timeline flight software. The flight team continues to monitor Curiosity's onboard systems and flight trajectory. The spacecraft and ground systems remain in good health, with no significant issues currently being worked.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/msl_landing.cfm (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/msl_landing.cfm)
Anyone else following this? There was a pretty good Horizon special on BBC2 earlier in the week on the trials and potential myriad of things that could prevent them landing the rover with the new parachute and 'sky crane' landing they are attempting (check it out (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01llnb2/Horizon_20122013_Mission_to_Mars/) if you missed it). Unlike the Olympics this is something genuinely of interest and benefit to mankind and I'm eager to see them land this baby and find out what we can discover, it should all be made more of a big deal. If only more money funded things like this instead IMO...
So who thinks we will find potential proof of previous life on Mars, or if not at least some indications that life could have existed there at some point?
It should land around 6am our time, Monday morning.
Doesn't look like many are on here but I'm cerainly trying to follow it as much as possible, 6am monday might be a little early for me though. Really will be fantastic if it works especially when you think its the size of a mini and with it being nuclear powered it should last for a long time, 14 years according to the wiki article.
Roll on monday morning!
I can't wait for this. If this goes well I think it's gonna be the next voyager, a real headliner for NASA.
We just spent ten billion on a glorified sports day when we could be doing this. Science and technology is our greatest achievement imo and if I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.
To be honest if we had a billion to spend on this, all we would have ended up with would be a £1,000,000 nuclear crater on the surface of mars, if we were lucky enough to hit the planet...
Our last shed built attempt at a mars probe disappeared without a trace in to space :-)
We've had one rover on Mars already, we can do it again dagnabbit! :yarr:
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 00:36:39 AM
We've had one rover on Mars already, we can do it again dagnabbit! :yarr:
One that didn't end up in a pile of scrap metal?
Not Mars related but Nasa/space related!
NASA gives Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada $1.1 billion to replace the Space Shuttle (http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/3/3217420/nasa-ccicap-award-spacex-boeing-sierra-nevada)
QuoteNASA has announced funding for three private aerospace companies, pledging a total of $1.1 billion to help launch astronauts to the International Space Station from American soil. Boeing and SpaceX will have their proposals fully funded, receiving $460 and $440 million respectively. The Sierra Nevada Corporation will also receive $212.5 million, likely towards its Dream Chaser
Nice to see they're actually following through with their idea to try and get space a bit more commercialised but nothing will quite compare to the shuttle though, well unless its bigger and has go faster stripes lol
Quote from: XEntity on August 03, 2012, 16:19:52 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 00:36:39 AM
We've had one rover on Mars already, we can do it again dagnabbit! :yarr:
One that didn't end up in a pile of scrap metal?
Of course, where do you think all the Mars surface pictures came from?
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/mars/#/mars-spirit-landing_1076_600x450.jpg (http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/mars/#/mars-spirit-landing_1076_600x450.jpg)
Quote from: Pete on August 02, 2012, 20:08:52 PM
I can't wait for this. If this goes well I think it's gonna be the next voyager, a real headliner for NASA.
We just spent ten billion on a glorified sports day when we could be doing this. Science and technology is our greatest achievement imo and if I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.
And you think science and technology does not exist in sport?
Doesn't have more relevance to healthcare or understanding the human body than a "glorified" remote control plane?
If I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.
Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.
The Olympics may be seen as a "big waste of money" by the general idiots but no other sporting event promotes scientific advancement or global harmony and equality than it.
You keep your massively expensive flying toy, I'll take the billions raised through tourism, the scientific breakthroughs that come from the extreme training regimes that athletes are put through and the massive moral boost given from watching your country compete on the global stage. Add in the massive steps forward made in racial and sex equality and you've got a complete package that kicks the arse out of your rocket ship.
Yes the rover is "cool" but ultimately the Olympics is more than the "glorified sports day" you call it.
Wow, I could not disagree with any of your post more. Since you've clearly bought into the Olympic hype machine and believe its not just a giant money-making scheme (none of which is going to aid getting us out of the recession which isn't the worst we've seen by far), if you can provide examples to back up any of those claims above for us idiots and explain how 'sport technology' is going to benefit the whole of mankind more than aerospace has done I'd love to hear them. I didn't even have to finish typing this sentence into Google before a page full of results came up (I got as far as 'benefits of'), but here are some examples of space explorations benefits apart from the obvious goal of exploring the universe and the survival of mankind by potentially inhabiting other worlds:
Global Positioning System: The mankind depends on the sea trade for transportation of food grains, fossil fuels, metal ores, etc. Global navigation system, GPS helps in timely delivery of these essential goods by providing the ships with essential navigation information. The GNS services are made available using networks of satellites which also enables satellite Internet and satellite phones.
Weather Forecast and Agriculture: Gone are the days, when we used to take an umbrella with us while going out if there were black clouds in the sky. Now we can rely on the weather reports updated on an hourly basis. The accurate weather forecast is possible only because of the satellites in the space. The satellites also help us in predicting the crop yields, pest infestation and the area under cultivation.
Natural Calamities: It is easy to predict natural calamities such as floods, storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and to locate wildfires and their extent with the help of satellites.
Minerals and Mining: Minerals buried deep under the Earth's surface can be located using satellites. Precious fossil fuels can be found with the help of satellites.
Electronics: The field of electronics and computers have also benefited from the space exploration. The astronauts have manufactured miniature electronic parts that could only be produced in the space during their experiments in the space stations and space shuttles.
Asteroids: It is believed that an asteroid strike eliminated the dinosaurs on the Earth. One of the benefits of space exploration is that we know about the thousands of asteroids and we can also be vigilant about their "drifts". May be we could prevent 'dinosaurian death of mankind', if and when an asteroid is positioned to repeat history. If it happens, it would be because of the knowledge which is the direct benefit of space exploration.
Energy Source: The scientists and researchers all over the world are attempting to harness the power of nuclear fusion. The process which enables the Sun to produce energy in abundance. It is believed that quantity of electricity generated using 1kg of hydrogen would be equivalent to that of 11,000 metric tons of coal.
Medicine: Another field to glean the benefits of the satellite exploration is that of medicine. Metal alloys that are manufactured to be used in spacecraft and space shuttles are also used in the health care industry. Nitinol, an alloy is used to make braces. The miniature electronic components which were developed for the space program can be used in electronic pain-control device that some patients need to use. The implantable insulin pump is based on the mechanical robot arm developed for the Mars Voyager probe.
What do you know, healthcare too?
People have died going into space for the benefit of mankind. Crying Olympiads does not really compare does it. If you think the Olympics is bigger than landing on the moon, well, this thread is not for you is it.
Lol you took what I said and jumped to a conclusion.
I said the Olympics is more than a "glorified sports day" not that it is "greater" than flying to the moon, to quantify the achievements of Olympiads or astronauts is idiotic.
I'll happily google up some "facts" for you if you're unable to type for yourself.
Anyway this isn't a topic about flying to the moon it's about sending a very expensive radio controlled car through space to land on a planet where it will drive around a bit and tell us what exactly? "holy sh*t we've found moss!!" whupdedoo.
If it was a manned mission I would be over the moon to spend billions on it, it's an achievement worthy of celebration. This... This is a repeat episode of eastenders. A bloody expensive one. They've already done this successfully once already so why the massive hype and wtf with the convoluted landing procedure.
A billion on the Olympics or throwing some metal at a rock in space... I'll take the Olympics thanks. "believe the Olympics hype" it's not hype mate, it's just the Olympics. The pinnacle of athletic sport.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 04, 2012, 10:59:52 AM
Global Positioning System: The mankind depends on the sea trade for transportation of food grains, fossil fuels, metal ores, etc. Global navigation system, GPS helps in timely delivery of these essential goods by providing the ships with essential navigation information. The GNS services are made available using networks of satellites which also enables satellite Internet and satellite phones.
Wtf has this got to do with the mars rover mission?
Quote
Weather Forecast and Agriculture: Gone are the days, when we used to take an umbrella with us while going out if there were black clouds in the sky. Now we can rely on the weather reports updated on an hourly basis. The accurate weather forecast is possible only because of the satellites in the space. The satellites also help us in predicting the crop yields, pest infestation and the area under cultivation.
Again... Mars?
Quote
Natural Calamities: It is easy to predict natural calamities such as floods, storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and to locate wildfires and their extent with the help of satellites.
Minerals and Mining: Minerals buried deep under the Earth's surface can be located using satellites. Precious fossil fuels can be found with the help of satellites.
Er... Beginning to think you just paste spammed this without actually reading it
Quote
Electronics: The field of electronics and computers have also benefited from the space exploration. The astronauts have manufactured miniature electronic parts that could only be produced in the space during their experiments in the space stations and space shuttles.
Seriously, you're now attributing any science subject to the mars rover mission. NASA has a fabrication plant in space producing hardware in everyday devices because they can't be built on earth? Damn... I thought Taiwan was pretty far away, didn't realise it was in orbit
Quote
Asteroids: It is believed that an asteroid strike eliminated the dinosaurs on the Earth. One of the benefits of space exploration is that we know about the thousands of asteroids and we can also be vigilant about their "drifts". May be we could prevent 'dinosaurian death of mankind', if and when an asteroid is positioned to repeat history. If it happens, it would be because of the knowledge which is the direct benefit of space exploration.
Okay, you're just trolling now. Telescopes existed long before this sky crane hover ship thing.
Quote
Energy Source: The scientists and researchers all over the world are attempting to harness the power of nuclear fusion. The process which enables the Sun to produce energy in abundance. It is believed that quantity of electricity generated using 1kg of hydrogen would be equivalent to that of 11,000 metric tons of coal.
Right, so that'll be science in general again...
Quote
Medicine: Another field to glean the benefits of the satellite exploration is that of medicine. Metal alloys that are manufactured to be used in spacecraft and space shuttles are also used in the health care industry. Nitinol, an alloy is used to make braces. The miniature electronic components which were developed for the space program can be used in electronic pain-control device that some patients need to use. The implantable insulin pump is based on the mechanical robot arm developed for the Mars Voyager probe.
...
Quote
What do you know, healthcare too?
People have died going into space for the benefit of mankind. Crying Olympiads does not really compare does it. If you think the Olympics is bigger than landing on the moon, well, this thread is not for you is it.
Pretty sure people have died quite a bit in sport.
Radio controlled cars don't really compare, do they.
So you're dismissing any future missions to space or other planets because you think we've done enough from those preceeding it? :lol: I'm not just talking about Mars, I'm talking about all aerospace and space exploration.
If you were any more short-sighted and blinkered you would be need a forum guide dog and tbh I think
you're the one trolling the thread from your original post, I can't see any other explanation for it seeing as you haven't provided a single substantial response to show anything 'sport science' has bought to the table greater than any of the accomplishments listed above - which yes I did regurgitate as I'm not going to spend hours reading through to argue something that should be obvious to most people.
Again, just becuase you seem to be missing the big picture completely, here's a shortlist of advancements and technology spin-offs from NASA et al of which a large majority are medical:
- Miniaturized integrated circuits
- Satellite technology
- GPS navigation systems
- bone-density measurements
- miniaturized heart pumps/the artificial heart
- The implantable insulin pump
- scratch-resistant lenses for eyeglasses
- better water filtration systems that turn wastewater into drinkable water
- wireless light switches
- high-performance, biodegradable lubricants used in sport equipment and cars
- Nitinol used in dental braces
- remediation solutions for sites contaminated by chemicals
- hand-held infra-red cameras used by firefighters
- Prosthesis materials
- Video stabilization software
- the development of Liquidmetal and sensors on reconnaissance robots used in Afghanistan and Iraq to deal with IEDs.
- held Jaws of Life
- insulation materials used everywhere including our homes
- The Hubble Space telescope
That's just a small short list overall, you can do your own research into the above and more if you don't believe it. I won't bother presenting any more arguments as you clearly have your mind made up.
Oh and FWIW, dying for your sport is not dying for the benefit of mankind, it's dying for yourself. :disappointed:
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on August 04, 2012, 08:26:44 AM
Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.
This was your argument. You can't come back and base your retorts on it 'not being about the Mars rover' You said they should cut space exploration
completely. All Clock'd was doing was showing how much of a silly idea that was, you can't post something on the internet then immediately after try and say something completely different!
Fair enough, you like the Olympics, a lot of people do - I suppose it's nicer to watch knowing it's not going to be you paying for it, it's going to be your children and their children who have to pay for something they didn't even get the pleasure to watch live.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 04, 2012, 15:36:45 PM
So you're dismissing any future missions to space or other planets because you think we've done enough from those preceeding it? :lol: I'm not just talking about Mars, I'm talking about all aerospace and space exploration.
If you were any more short-sighted and blinkered you would be need a forum guide dog and tbh I think you're the one trolling the thread from your original post, I can't see any other explanation for it seeing as you haven't provided a single substantial response to show anything 'sport science' has bought to the table greater than any of the accomplishments listed above - which yes I did regurgitate as I'm not going to spend hours reading through to argue something that should be obvious to most people.
Again, just becuase you seem to be missing the big picture completely, here's a shortlist of advancements and technology spin-offs from NASA et al of which a large majority are medical:
- Miniaturized integrated circuits
- Satellite technology
- GPS navigation systems
- bone-density measurements
- miniaturized heart pumps/the artificial heart
- The implantable insulin pump
- scratch-resistant lenses for eyeglasses
- better water filtration systems that turn wastewater into drinkable water
- wireless light switches
- high-performance, biodegradable lubricants used in sport equipment and cars
- Nitinol used in dental braces
- remediation solutions for sites contaminated by chemicals
- hand-held infra-red cameras used by firefighters
- Prosthesis materials
- Video stabilization software
- the development of Liquidmetal and sensors on reconnaissance robots used in Afghanistan and Iraq to deal with IEDs.
- held Jaws of Life
- insulation materials used everywhere including our homes
- The Hubble Space telescope
That's just a small short list overall, you can do your own research into the above and more if you don't believe it. I won't bother presenting any more arguments as you clearly have your mind made up.
Oh and FWIW, dying for your sport is not dying for the benefit of mankind, it's dying for yourself. :disappointed:
Nope you're getting the wrong end of the stick.
I'm saying that the Olympics is more than a glorified sports day.
You on the other hand seem to want to justify the existence of space exploration, clue: it doesn't need to be justified in this thread.
In the grand scheme of things I think that the olympics will do more for mankind than a few billion spent on a space mission to land a toy car on mars.
Dying at work due to someones negligence isn't dying for mankind, it's poor health and safety or quality controls.
Quote from: Beanissocoollike on August 04, 2012, 16:09:16 PM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on August 04, 2012, 08:26:44 AM
Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.
This was your argument. You can't come back and base your retorts on it 'not being about the Mars rover' You said they should cut space exploration completely. All Clock'd was doing was showing how much of a silly idea that was, you can't post something on the internet then immediately after try and say something completely different!
Fair enough, you like the Olympics, a lot of people do - I suppose it's nicer to watch knowing it's not going to be you paying for it, it's going to be your children and their children who have to pay for something they didn't even get the pleasure to watch live.
That was what I'd do in this current situation, you appear to have missed the preceding comment saying I know what I would do.
Not changed the argument at all, if nige failed to read the post that's his cock up. My original point is that the olympics does more for us than a few billion spent on getting our own rover to mars, and should be considered to be more than a "glorified sports day". In actual fact it's as similar a massive generalisation as me calling the curiosity mission to mars a "toy car".
Fail to see how I won't be paying for it? Unless we magically don't pay any taxes for the next 50+ years?
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on August 04, 2012, 08:26:44 AM
Quote from: Pete on August 02, 2012, 20:08:52 PM
I can't wait for this. If this goes well I think it's gonna be the next voyager, a real headliner for NASA.
We just spent ten billion on a glorified sports day when we could be doing this. Science and technology is our greatest achievement imo and if I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.
And you think science and technology does not exist in sport?
Doesn't have more relevance to healthcare or understanding the human body than a "glorified" remote control plane?
If I was in charge I know what I'd be doing.
Cut space exploration completely, concentrate funds on getting our arses out of the worst recession we have ever experienced, then consider the options.
The Olympics may be seen as a "big waste of money" by the general idiots but no other sporting event promotes scientific advancement or global harmony and equality than it.
You keep your massively expensive flying toy, I'll take the billions raised through tourism, the scientific breakthroughs that come from the extreme training regimes that athletes are put through and the massive moral boost given from watching your country compete on the global stage. Add in the massive steps forward made in racial and sex equality and you've got a complete package that kicks the arse out of your rocket ship.
Yes the rover is "cool" but ultimately the Olympics is more than the "glorified sports day" you call it.
QFE ( as folk are clearly being hotheaded any missing the tone and entire point of the above post)
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 23:51:45 PM
Quote from: XEntity on August 03, 2012, 16:19:52 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 03, 2012, 00:36:39 AM
We've had one rover on Mars already, we can do it again dagnabbit! :yarr:
One that didn't end up in a pile of scrap metal?
Of course, where do you think all the Mars surface pictures came from?
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/mars/#/mars-spirit-landing_1076_600x450.jpg (http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/mars/#/mars-spirit-landing_1076_600x450.jpg)
By "we" I thought you meant the UK :-)
Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?
One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).
Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.
True, it may be getting hot headed I suppose, but I never mentioned the Olympics once until M3ta7h3ad brought it into the equation - edit: what Pete said doesn't need to derail the thread.
Fact is NASA and space exploration are both serving a very good purpose, if you don't agree then this isn't the thread for you/trolling and I won't be arguing that point any more.
Quote from: XEntity on August 04, 2012, 16:44:09 PM
Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?
One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).
Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.
Aww, I was just about to dig out the popcorn gif...
Quote from: zpyder on August 04, 2012, 18:46:44 PM
Quote from: XEntity on August 04, 2012, 16:44:09 PM
Edit - just read the rest, seriously guys?
One person makes a harmless comment, and you have nothing better to do than, take the whole thing out of context, this thread is about space travel (which is awesome), not about trolling or finding out the best way to point out how someone's opinion is wrong! (which isn't big, clever or progressing humanity one bit).
Give it a rest, I'm sure someone visiting here doesn't want to see this trivial bickering.
Aww, I was just about to dig out the popcorn gif...
*confiscates zpyder's popcorn*
You don't deserve it.
Tbh billions are spent on space research, but you never know what you will get out of it. There are plenty of things that the money might be spent on too. The problem is if you shut it down you are never going to get anywhere with the research, there will always be something more deserving.
As to Curiosity, it is a hell of a lot cheaper sending a rover to do the work then putting together a human based exploration mission. The rover will cost less than a tenth of that to send a human.
I think that it is important that we do space research, maybe not as important as medical but it might be eventually. Eventually there will be expansions beyond Earth - there has to be in order to safeguard humanity as a species and life from earth. That can only happen at a certain rate.
Remember, we spend billions on entertainment, films, records, shows, sporting events. All of those could be stopped tomorrow and the governments could force the effort into something more important, but they won't. It all comes from the idea of freedom.
Less than 20 hours to go, Curiosity is in Mars' gravity well. Given the distance covered and the area it has to land on, this is going to be much better than a hole in one!
QuoteThe day we stop exploring is the day we commit ourselves to live in a stagnant world, devoid of curiosity, empty of dreams.
I was thinking, surely they have video feeds all the time during these key stages? It'd be cool if they did, if they could release them to the public. I know that the process will take several hours for it to land, but it'd be kind of cool to be able to watch Mars get closer and closer. That, or just speed it up 10x at the boring points. Usually I've only ever seen a few frames or seconds once it's on the ground (if it didn't blow up) via the news on TV.
it takes 14min for the signal from the rover to get here, and I'm guessing it's pretty low bandwidth... they'll probably release something once it's landed... it would be pretty cack if it crashed with a million people watching :o
don't know about this rover, but I remember reading about a satellite - can't remember the name of it now, it's the one which has gone out further than anything else has... anyway... it's transmitter to send signals back to earth is only 8watts... a single break light bulb is 12watts.... it's pretty crazy that something so weak can send signals back to earth, and all the super high res pics etc...
Yeah that satellite is in the asteroid belt outside our solar system now, I think it is still transmitting data back too, which is incredible really.
As for Curiosity, I know NASA is doing a 'livestream' of sorts for this landing but I don't know what the content of it will be, probably just live (15 mins behind) tracking announcements and a touchdown.
QuoteThe rover, tucked inside a protective shell, is due to begin its descent to the surface at 05:24 GMT, Monday (06:24 BST; 22:24 PDT, Sun).
A signal confirming it has landed inside a deep depression known as Gale Crater is expected on Earth about seven minutes later, at 05:31 GMT
Not a good time to be up and watching it unfortunately.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19078494
(http://i.imgur.com/Kos7a.png)
Touchdown!!! :nana:
(http://i.imgur.com/Utn5d.gif)
You can still see it on their live feed, I'm watching it now
:ptu: :nana: :thumbup: :cheers: (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/24512027%5B/url)
Woot, not sure what will come from it but hey its still cool!
W00t :w00t: :w00t: :ptu: Heck of an achievement! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/08/06/mars-orbiter-catches-pic-of-curiosity-on-its-way-down/
Yey :)
Sorry for sparking off a riot, it was only a mindless comment. The Olympics is great fun but NASA have just put a massive robot on Mars.
Robot on Mars > Bolt.
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/ - Voyager missions.
Cheers for the links to Voyager, that's interesting reading :)
When you see how big it is, its pretty amazing considering its a big jump in size from the others.
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8696/hirisecuriosityhardware.jpg) (http://www.uahirise.org/images/2012/details/cut/landing_site_annotated.jpg)
Clicky for bigger. :)
Also:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/proj/msl/redops/ods/surface/sol/00002/opgs/edr/ncam/NRA_397681372EDR_F0020000AUT_04096M_.JPG
Quote from: skidzilla on August 09, 2012, 02:05:53 AM
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/proj/msl/redops/ods/surface/sol/00002/opgs/edr/ncam/NRA_397681372EDR_F0020000AUT_04096M_.JPG
when you first see that picture it's not that impressive, it doesn't look like anything special, we've seen loads of pictures just like it... and people running around in it in films like alien etc.... but then you stop for a second and realise that's actually a picture... from the surface of Mars :o
Have they found any ompa lumpas yet?
Looks just like total recall.. if you imagine some habitat domes.. :muttley:
Quote from: Eggtastico on August 09, 2012, 11:32:10 AM
Have they found any ompa lumpas yet?
They usually only show up in mirrors. Why don't you go take a look? :thumbup:
Colour Panorama (stitched from low-res thumbnails):
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/675337main_pia16029_full.jpg
Shame its not quite big enough to make a proper wallpaper, is that genuine colour or one of the 'faux colour' images?
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 10, 2012, 01:54:44 AM
Shame its not quite big enough to make a proper wallpaper, is that genuine colour or one of the 'faux colour' images?
They said all thats been done to it is its been brightened slightly as they take the photo's a little underexposed.
Quote from: Eggtastico on August 09, 2012, 11:32:10 AM
Have they found any ompa lumpas yet?
i thought it was Clangers, or is that the moon?
Quote from: Cornholio on August 11, 2012, 01:13:21 AMi thought it was Clangers, or is that the moon?
the moon of course
where else would they find the moon soup they love so much ?
mmmmm moon soup.... i wonder if it tastes of cheese?
Jesus how cool is this?
http://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731
Quote from: Rivkid on August 12, 2012, 21:08:57 PM
Jesus how cool is this?
http://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731
OMFG I'm on mars!
heh, takes a while to load but pretty cool :)
Yeah, when you think that thing is just a bit smaller then a small car and that it is on Mars! it is amazing!
I read how they did a software update with brain transfer to go from getting to Mars to be on Mars mode - really impressive. The article wrote our software companies like mobile OS should learn from how NASA do it because it is so smooth and compressed really well but did also point out some of the compression technology they use is pretty special and NASA only.
Quote from: neXus on August 12, 2012, 23:20:59 PM
some of the compression technology they use is pretty special and NASA only.
Hopefully only for now, at least, like most things. That 360 degree view thing alone is worth sending a rover to Mars :ptu:
Some detailed images of piecing together the rover before take off:
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/08/curiosity-just-days-away-from-mars/100346/ (http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/08/curiosity-just-days-away-from-mars/100346/)
I'm still amazed that we managed to drop this semi-autonomous car-sized collection of scientific instruments off on a hazardous rock over 50 million miles away, landing it by parachute within a 12 mile targeted region on the surface. It's mind boggling really.
Its really quite mind blogging, especially when you look at how close they've got the other rovers in the past, think the bbc had a picture up the other day but can't find it.
Quote from: Rivkid on August 12, 2012, 21:08:57 PM
Jesus how cool is this?
http://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731
Cool :D :D :D
Not mars but space related again!
QuoteSpaceX has received final clearance from NASA to begin flying resupply missions to the International Space Station. Space News reports that the first of twelve resupply flights is scheduled to take place in October, marking an important milestone for commercial spaceflight. It's the culmination of the SpaceX's Commercial Orbital Transportation services agreement, a $400 million contract that required the company to successfully recover a craft from low-Earth orbit, and then successfully deliver a payload to the ISS. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft made history in May as the first commercial vessel to ever dock at the ISS. SpaceX's next twelve cargo trips are part of a $1.6 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract, awarded by NASA in 2008. The space agency hopes investments like this will stimulate America's fledgling commercial space industry, creating jobs and (arguably, more importantly) allowing the NASA to focus its efforts on developing new avenues for human exploration of space.
Source @ Verge (http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/29/3275553/spacex-nasa-resupply-missions-ISS)