NASA pulled it off again!

[b5blue]

 Anyone else excited about Curiosity's safe landing on Mars? Finally a well equipped rover ready to to do some research, I hope it all runs smooth.   

[TruckDriver]

I never heard anything at all about this. This is news to me they were doing anything. And I watch the news all the time, and listen to a news talk radio station at work all day.

[tan top]

 like anything like that  , but the last mars lander thingy   , was only in the meida couple of days showed a few pictures , & never heard anymore & as far as i know  ,  was / still sending pictures back i think too 

[b5blue]

 I wanted to stay up for the landing but I've been working on my car so much. With this week off I've got to get some production. (Getting up early to beat the heat.) Sorry no links but it will be all over the news. Yes there is still one running up on the pole also.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

How soon before NASA releases pictures of those three-breasted Martian women?   

[hemi68charger]

How soon before NASA releases pictures of those three-breasted Martian women?   

As soon as you shave that beard off........ 

[68coronetGLwannabe]

First pic just in.

[b5blue]

  We come in peace!

[Indygenerallee]

Im not real thrilled, How many problems do we have here on earth and we are trying to look for "life" on another planet!? How many rovers have been to Mars now?? bunch of friggin' rocks... Like Myturbin said I wanna see some Total Recall martian women!!

[Dans 68]

It was exciting to watch the control room react to each step in the "7 Minutes of Terror" landing sequence, and it is amazing to think about what had to happen to achieve that soft landing. Engineering at its best. Simply amazing.

Dan

[twodko]

How soon before NASA releases pictures of those three-breasted Martian women?   

Clearly, you've never been to SF. 

[twodko]

It's a wonderful engineering achievement but all those simolians would go a hell of a long way bolstering SS, education, senior services etc and so on. 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

How soon before NASA releases pictures of those three-breasted Martian women?  

As soon as you shave that beard off........  

As you wish.................

[bakerhillpins]

I didn't see/hear anything in the news either. Apparently the landing was extremely complex and difficult. There was a very interesting NOVA episode on it.

It's a wonderful engineering achievement but all those simolians would go a hell of a long way bolstering SS, education, senior services etc and so on. 

While I completely agree with bolstering the items in your list...
The shear number of gizmos that are produced as a direct result of the advances in technology that these programs produce are worth every penny IMHO.  

[twodko]

I just watched JPL's multiple stop frame shots of the decent. My gawd we've some extraordinary folks at NASA from all over the world too.
This is the kind of academic excellence our kids need to strive for.....our future as a country will be bleak without this outstanding acumen.

Bravo NASA.

[440]

I just watched JPL's multiple stop frame shots of the decent. My gawd we've some extraordinary folks at NASA from all over the world too.
This is the kind of academic excellence our kids need to strive for.....our future as a country will be bleak without this outstanding acumen.

Bravo NASA.

You can thank Obama for pulling funding for the space program.

[twodko]

You might expect a PM from the mods.

[440]

Maybe, delete if you wish..... It wasn't a dig directed toward you, it was directed toward the government that is slowly destroying this country of ours.

I think most kids have an interest in space and the space program. Growing up near the NASA Ames Research Center and getting a tour of the place it's truly amazing what they come up with. The crazy far fetched ideas that materialize and are put into practice. It's amazing any of it works at all. Where would we be today without the technology and developments from NASA? Cut funding and jobs along with ventures like these get cut etc.

I hope we hear more about this venture as it is exciting.

[twodko]

I know and we're good. It scares hell outta me every time I read the paper. The probs our country is dogged by go back many years. Nuf said.

[Patronus]

It was exciting to watch the control room react to each step in the "7 Minutes of Terror" landing sequence, and it is amazing to think about what had to happen to achieve that soft landing. Engineering at its best. Simply amazing.

Dan

I would have to agree. Lowering a ton onto another planet via a cable and jet pack? Strong work NASA!!

[bull]

Im not real thrilled, How many problems do we have here on earth and we are trying to look for "life" on another planet!? How many rovers have been to Mars now?? bunch of friggin' rocks...

There have been seven rovers sent to Mars. Four rovers from the US (1997, two in 2004 and 2012), two from Russia (both in 1971) and one from the UK (2003). All US landings have been successful but the results thereafter have been mixed. The first Russian attempt crashed. The second was a success but then communications were lost 20 seconds later. The UK attempt failed as soon as the lander seperated from its mother ship and all communications were lost.

[BigBlackDodge]

I just watched JPL's multiple stop frame shots of the decent. My gawd we've some extraordinary folks at NASA from all over the world too.
This is the kind of academic excellence our kids need to strive for.....our future as a country will be bleak without this outstanding acumen.

Bravo NASA.

You can thank Obama for pulling funding for the space program.

Apparently not all funding............



BBD

[b5blue]

  About the expense's....7,000 jobs over 8 years with corporations sharing CAD and CAM along with digital modeling programs with NASA to develop and build this system. Our entire digital revolution was largely driven by the space program's need for highly reliable compact electronics. Our defense and economy have benefited hugely from every dollar spent over the last 50 years.          

[Charger_Fan]

I vaguely remember when they launched this thing & recall thinking "yeah, whatever, just wake me up when we get there".

Seeing how they pulled this off sure is amazing, to say the least. I hope the rover continues to function for quite a while. I assume the "hovercraft" part of this thing just flew off & landed/crashed elsewhere after the rover was down? They don't talk about that much.

BTW, once we decide to inhabit the place, I vote for sending all the OWS protesters there to make a go of it.

[b5blue]

After entry into Mars atmosphere using heat shields then a high speed parachute the landing rocket slowed to a hover, lowered Curiosity by cable (To the tune of a 2mph bump!) released it and jumped clear to crash.     From 13,000mph to 2mph in 7 minutes!