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[DrForester]

How far did they say the rover was from Mt. Sharp?

They said 23KM but that might be distance from the crater rim.

 

[astroturfing]

"No."

loved that really amazing how well everything has gone so far.

 

[ghostmind]

How do they determine the mountains heights? By that I mean, hereon Earth i's height above sea level. What is 0 on Mars?

Relative to whatever base it is sitting on, in this case the crater floor.

 

[AstroNut325]

CRAP... I missed the video. Is there a YouTube version up yet?

 

[Laurentius]

Where's this video people are talking about?

 

[DrForester]

Here's a nice map of the crater, landing area is highlighted in the front.

 

[SUPREME1]

Would the scientist lady on the left with the black shirt.

 

[AstroNut325]

CRAP... my flash plug-in CRASHED! NOOOOOO!

 

[C.Dark.DN]

6km high I think.

A 20,000 ft hill.

I guess it's an illusion because it looks so damn close.

A local 2,392 foot mountain around my city:

 

[Macattk15]

I guess it's an illusion because it looks so damn close.

Yeah I don't know. If it really is 6km, then it is 20,000 ft tall. But I agree, that picture makes it look tiny.

"SOON."

 

[Clevinger]

Where's this video people are talking about?

There's a low-res, low framerate video of the landing from a camera underneath the rover.

edit: Oh, woops. You said where. I don't know. They're releasing a high quality version of it later.

 

[DrForester]

I guess it's an illusion because it looks so damn close.

According to Wiki tt's 18,000 ft from the lowest point, which is on the north side of the crater. Curiosity landed on the South side, which is much higher in elevation.

 

[Rentahamster]

"soon"

She could get a job at Blizzard.

 

[drizzle]

Takes 2 Mars Days to update each of the computers.

Flash that firmware over radio waves beamed to space!

 

[Alebrije]

Is there a reason for landing in that place? Does the crater has something special?

 

[DrForester]

Is there a reason for landing in that place? Does the crater has something special?

It's believed that it could have been the bed of an ocean floor at one point. Giving a better chance for older surface samples.

 

[owlbeak]

Is there a reason for landing in that place? Does the crater has something special?

Basically a cross-section of layered rock that will show them millions of years of Mars' geological history, along with erosion patterns that were formed in the presence of water.

 

[Randdalf]

I wonder if NASA have ever thought about setting up a network of communication buoys across the solar system, so they can communicate more effectively further away...

Can't wait for the higher-res landing video.

 

[DrForester]

According to Wiki tt's 18,000 ft from the lowest point, which is on the north side of the crater. Curiosity landed on the South side, which is much higher in elevation.

Take that back. It landed in the lower section aprently.

 

[owlbeak]

I wonder if NASA have ever thought about setting up a network of communication buoys across the solar system, so they can communicate more effectively further away.

Well, distance is distance. Relaying coms through buoys across the solar system isn't going to speed up transmit/receive times, as it still has to traverse the same distance.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

I wonder if NASA have ever thought about setting up a network of communication buoys across the solar system, so they can communicate more effectively further away...

Can't wait for the higher-res landing video.

they were going to do this for mars but it got cancelled

 

[Leeroy3101]

Haha, middle name of the rover is being called "patience".

 

[zalemale]

I want to say that part of reason why that mountain is appearing smaller than it actually is, is partly due to the very thin atmosphere on Mars. I recall huge mountains on the moon appearing extremely close / small in pictures due to the absence of any atmosphere.

 

[CFMOORE!]

any place to see the video of the landing?

 

[FyreWulff]

any place to see the video of the landing?

They said it'd be up on the JPL website in a while

 

[Darth Pinche]

any place to see the video of the landing?

He said the video and photos will be posted on the JPL website.

 

[owlbeak]

any place to see the video of the landing?

Scouring JPL's website and everything, haven't found it yet.

 

[Killthee]

any place to see the video of the landing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGMDXy-Y1I

 

[Joel Was Right]

That vid in high-res HNNNNNNNG

I missed it

 

[RankoSD]

I missed it

You didn't missed it, it will be available in a couple of weeks once all the high-res images are sent to the Earth, only the low-res slide show was shown for now.

 

[orientalNoodle]

Take that back. It landed in the lower section aprently.

That is one big ass crater...+100km across.

 

[FACE]

I missed it

No high-res version yet, but the low-res version is on JPL's youtube page.

 

[maquiladora]

So about 4 weeks until we have the full hi res video of the landing. Thats going to look incredible.

 

[Woorloog]

Does Mars' closer horizon affect the perception of how tall a mountain is?
Also, what's the len's field of view?

 

[astroturfing]

I missed it

it was very low quality so you couldn't make out much.

the hi-res version is coming later. can't wait.

 

[Razek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGMDXy-Y1I

Sometimes we accomplish some very cool stuff. Incredible.

 

[Alebrije]

What is the main difference with this rover ? I mean there has been others before.

Does it has more equipment? or can climb higher places??

 

[owlbeak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGMDXy-Y1I

Yes! Thanks

 

[Like the hat?]

that landing "video" was awesome, even at the low resolution.

 

[maquiladora]

What is the main difference with this rover ? I mean there has been others before.

Does it has more equipment? or can climb higher places??

Much bigger, much more maneuverable, and lots of the most advanced scientific instruments and cameras that have ever been on Mars.

 

[Verdre]

What is the main difference with this rover ? I mean there has been others before.

Does it has more equipment? or can climb higher places??

The others were the size of a small coffee table. This one is the size of a car. It's nuclear powered so there's no need to worry about solar panels. It has much better science equipment.

 

[Macattk15]

What is the main difference with this rover ? I mean there has been others before.

Does it has more equipment? or can climb higher places??

More equipment. Larger. Different power system (non-solar).

 

[ghostmind]

Comparison of the three "generations" of Mars rovers.

 

[EarsOfASnake]

I wonder how frustrated the staff get when they delve into q&a. Some of the questions come across as so unbearably impatient and not in a 'this is so exciting' way. People really don't seem to appreciate the complexity of what is actually going on.

 

[owlbeak]

I wonder how frustrated the staff get when they delve into q&a. Some of the questions come across as so unbearably impatient and not in a 'this is so exciting' way. People really don't seem to appreciate the complexity of what is actually going on.

Some of those reporters were assholes this evening. They just want pictures, period. They don't care about anything else.

 

[jett]

Didn't he cut NASA's budget? Or wanted to?

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Well, distance is distance. Relaying coms through buoys across the solar system isn't going to speed up transmit/receive times, as it still has to traverse the same distance.

True, but data rates would be greatly increased and there would be less noise and signal loss.

 

[Amir0x]

Comparison of the three "generations" of Mars rovers.

jesus, the extra science on Curiosity...

 

[owlbeak]

That video...I just keep watching it over and over. That is some breathtaking stuff. The full resolution and complete frame set for that landing is going to be mind blowing stuff.

 

[AstroNut325]

Didn't he cut NASA's budget? Or wanted to?

Yes he did. Well... him and Congress.