Mars Science Laboratory aka Curiosity - NASA's next Mars rover

Rivkid · August 12, 2012, 21:08:57 PM

Jesus how cool is this?

http://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731

Leon · August 12, 2012, 21:30:18 PM

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

neXus · August 12, 2012, 23:20:59 PM

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.

Clock'd 0Ne · August 13, 2012, 00:11:20 AM

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

Clock'd 0Ne · August 15, 2012, 18:26:30 PM

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/

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.

Russell · August 15, 2012, 19:34:35 PM

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.

bear · August 15, 2012, 19:37:08 PM

Quote from: Rivkid on August 12, 2012, 21:08:57 PM
Jesus how cool is this?

http://www.360pano.eu/show/?id=731

Cool

Leon · August 29, 2012, 10:27:19 AM

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

News:

Mars Science Laboratory aka Curiosity - NASA's next Mars rover