Crane goes off to Cydonia, to complete the true mission, at the base of the Mars Face.
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NASA's Mars Science Laboratory |OT| 2,000 Pounds of Science!
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Crane goes off to Cydonia, to complete the true mission, at the base of the Mars Face.
Ether_Snake
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Most likely. Viking 2 was only 50 pounds lighter than Curiosity and used a traditional parachute -> rocket descent with solid landing gear. I'd expect the sky crane adds a decent amount of weight with the extra structure and rocket fuel it requires.
Joel Was Right
Member
I feel depressed. I've wasted my life by not being a rocket scientist
Fenderputty
Banned
I think this weekly if not daily. Not that I don't enjoy my life, but if I were really work on something I love, it would be space exploration.
I'm sort of there with you. I'm not a huge space nerd or anything, but watching that Seven Minutes of Terror video last week almost got me choked up. I was just so incredibly overwhelmed by how amazing the whole project is. If was 15 years younger, I have no doubt that this would have motivated me to at least explore the option of going into a science major.
Joel Was Right
Member
Partial Gamification
Banned
There are many ways to be part of the Space Age, or whatever you want to call it -even aerospace industries, without being a rocket scientist. Find your passion and develop your skills with what you enjoy. Build something!
DoDonGouki
Member
Nicely done NASA !
Good things will come from this.
PS: I wonder what all the Martians think about this ?
Good things will come from this.
PS: I wonder what all the Martians think about this ?
Joel Was Right
Member
Well there is still time left for us to be amongst the astronauts chosen to land on Mars.
Forsete
Member
Yeah, feel the same. :'(
i'd sign up for a one way mission in a heartbeat.
V
Vilix
Unconfirmed Member
Where is the crane suppose to fly off to anyway? Is it just to suppose to fly off and crash like the other delivery systems?
We could become billionaires, and force NASA to include us in their Mars initiative, because they'll be leveraging so hard on private Space firm participation.
If Branson built them a Mars vessel, for free, with the caveat that they had to let him go with, how could they say no?
Seems like a waste of a perfectly good flying device. I would at least make it crash into something and maybe create a large hole, for science. Like those "lava tubes" the aliens create with their subterranean drilling machines.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
People depressed at not working directly in the industries that support space should remember: one of the most important forms of support involves expressing the view that it matters.
The more voices there are to drown out the cynics, negativity, and apathy towards science, the more science will get done.
The more voices there are to drown out the cynics, negativity, and apathy towards science, the more science will get done.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
I had an interesting time last night. Something compelled me to drive 70-odd miles to Baton Rouge to arrive at midnight to watch the landing at a small observatory.
I pulled into the observatory parking area, not sure if I had the right spot at first due to it's utter blackness, and the first sign I see says "Parking Lights Only Beyond This Point." I hadn't considered this, and I wasn't sure if this was really necessary on a night when they wouldn't necessarily be looking out, but I turned off my headlights, turned down my dash brightness, and slowly crept into a parking place at idle speed, hoping my night vision would improve.
Stepping out of the car, the sounds of rural nocturnal southern wildlife leapt out at me, and for the first time in probably 20 years I found myself trying to watch my step by moonlight. There were some high clouds giving the moon a bit of a halo, but plenty of stars were still easily visible. The impact of the reality of the night sky is something that can rarely be effectively communicated, but I can say I was filled with deep regret that I spend so many nights detached from what's above me living in the suburbs.
So it was a small get-together, mostly college kids and older enthusiasts. Everyone was surprisingly quiet, and the tension was palpable until everyone erupted about a second after the folks at the JPL did. After things quieted down, one of the folks shared that the flight director was a Baton Rouge native. There was a mother there with her young son, and the kid seemed really thrilled about that bit.
After seeing something so complex go off seemingly without a hitch, I felt this particular kind of pride that nothing but space endeavors ever give me, something ignorant and indifferent to the bullshit of most of life. A reduction of the human experience to a basic, almost childlike state of the blending of intelligence and emotion, of passion and possibilities. A pure, simple kind of thing, yet the apotheosis of the sterile stereotype science gets plastered with so often in the public domain.
Driving back, I oddly felt differently about all of the cars on the road, the bridges I drove across, the tall buildings of downtown hugging the horizon in the distance, a sense of being caught in the flow of a river of technology stretching back to the first time someone figured out they could make a campfire. I was reminded that science and technology are just as natural and organic as the rest of the history of this planet, and the whole continuum of the accomplishments of life on this planet washed over me.
It was an odd experience, and something I hadn't expected when I set out to just sit around with some other nerds and watch a TV over free coffee.
I pulled into the observatory parking area, not sure if I had the right spot at first due to it's utter blackness, and the first sign I see says "Parking Lights Only Beyond This Point." I hadn't considered this, and I wasn't sure if this was really necessary on a night when they wouldn't necessarily be looking out, but I turned off my headlights, turned down my dash brightness, and slowly crept into a parking place at idle speed, hoping my night vision would improve.
Stepping out of the car, the sounds of rural nocturnal southern wildlife leapt out at me, and for the first time in probably 20 years I found myself trying to watch my step by moonlight. There were some high clouds giving the moon a bit of a halo, but plenty of stars were still easily visible. The impact of the reality of the night sky is something that can rarely be effectively communicated, but I can say I was filled with deep regret that I spend so many nights detached from what's above me living in the suburbs.
So it was a small get-together, mostly college kids and older enthusiasts. Everyone was surprisingly quiet, and the tension was palpable until everyone erupted about a second after the folks at the JPL did. After things quieted down, one of the folks shared that the flight director was a Baton Rouge native. There was a mother there with her young son, and the kid seemed really thrilled about that bit.
After seeing something so complex go off seemingly without a hitch, I felt this particular kind of pride that nothing but space endeavors ever give me, something ignorant and indifferent to the bullshit of most of life. A reduction of the human experience to a basic, almost childlike state of the blending of intelligence and emotion, of passion and possibilities. A pure, simple kind of thing, yet the apotheosis of the sterile stereotype science gets plastered with so often in the public domain.
Driving back, I oddly felt differently about all of the cars on the road, the bridges I drove across, the tall buildings of downtown hugging the horizon in the distance, a sense of being caught in the flow of a river of technology stretching back to the first time someone figured out they could make a campfire. I was reminded that science and technology are just as natural and organic as the rest of the history of this planet, and the whole continuum of the accomplishments of life on this planet washed over me.
It was an odd experience, and something I hadn't expected when I set out to just sit around with some other nerds and watch a TV over free coffee.
WeAreStarStuff
Member
I woke up this morning nervous to see if this had succeeded or not. In fact, I didn’t even check the news until after working out just in case the news was negative and then I would have been too bummed out to do anything. When I saw that the mission had been successful I pumped my hands into the air and yelled out loud lol….someone may have tried to cut an onion under my eyes while I was celebrating. One thing I’m surprised about are the “USA USA, GO ‘MERICA" posts. I would think space exploration of all things would break people through their myopic, nationalistic views of events, but I digress. What an amazing day for our species; so grateful and proud of my fellow humans for accomplishing this. Truly, there is intellectual genius at JPL that I could never understand, but I appreciate it to the full extent of my faculty.
Graphics Horse
Member
I read it was something to do with not kicking up dust. Having on board boosters on the rover would be nifty though, especially if there was fuel left over.
Speaking of apathy - the most depressing example of this was on Facebook last night. Only two other people on my friends list with even recognition of this event. Instead it was just more, "blah blah blah, look at me and how rich and fabulous I am".
This age of self-promotion and narcissism needs to end, and a new age of enlightenment needs to begin.
Stuggernaut
Grandma's Chippy
You think anyone would ever volunteer to go to Mars if it was a one way trip? meaning they have the resources to get you there and keep you alive for a long time, but not to get you back to Earth.
Same question for deep space exploration...massive ship filled with supplies to sustain one person and drop off data relay satellites then just go...
I always wonder this for some reason. Bizarre I know.
Would be a lonely trip, but amazing as well. And you could communicate at least with home.
Same question for deep space exploration...massive ship filled with supplies to sustain one person and drop off data relay satellites then just go...
I always wonder this for some reason. Bizarre I know.
Would be a lonely trip, but amazing as well. And you could communicate at least with home.
the advantage is not getting dust all up in your shit
one way trip alone would suck, but i'd still do it. but i would prefer one way trip with a couple fellow pioneers.
I'm pretty sure every manned Mars mission is going to be one way. It just cost way too much to send him there and back. They'll spend years sending robots to build a base and then send the first person.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
I wonder if the reactions suddenly stirred up to the landing are due in part to this event taking place in a different era.
The previous Mars rovers landed closer to the time of 9/11 and a different kind of national distraction. It was before the rise of Youtube, before Twitter, before technology such as the live simulation tracker was available to watch right there on your own computer. The ability has increased for people to be informed and aware of the monumental technological feat this represents.
Last night, I saw a lot of people around the internet really sitting up as if they were taking notice of such things for the first time. Despite the fact that there had been prior rover landings, the scale and sophistication of this one really made it feel as if a 'proper' spacecraft and vehicle were landing on another planet. This impressed people in a way the previous missions hadn't (whether that's unfair to the previous missions or not).
The previous Mars rovers landed closer to the time of 9/11 and a different kind of national distraction. It was before the rise of Youtube, before Twitter, before technology such as the live simulation tracker was available to watch right there on your own computer. The ability has increased for people to be informed and aware of the monumental technological feat this represents.
Last night, I saw a lot of people around the internet really sitting up as if they were taking notice of such things for the first time. Despite the fact that there had been prior rover landings, the scale and sophistication of this one really made it feel as if a 'proper' spacecraft and vehicle were landing on another planet. This impressed people in a way the previous missions hadn't (whether that's unfair to the previous missions or not).
I'd go, no questions asked, in a heartbeat. To Mars, or anywhere for that matter.
speculawyer
Member
Yeah, the drab nature of Mars makes it a little boring. That really goes to show how much life itself changes the landscape. Without life and without water . . . a non-gas planet is just a rock.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Hopefully we researched blaster bombs first.
speculawyer
Member
I'd go.
ConfusingJazz
Member
Venus probably has a cool landscape, just has the problem of being the solar system's best pressure cooker.
There's no way I'm handing out Blaster Launchers without first testing for Psi Strength.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Any manned trip to Mars need extensive psychological profiling and analysis of any potential candidate to make sure they have the right state of mind to do what is necessary.
Having one or more of your astronauts go crazy on live stream while stuck on Mars would be a PR disaster.
Having one or more of your astronauts go crazy on live stream while stuck on Mars would be a PR disaster.
orientalNoodle
Banned
Mars actually has some really cool geological features. One of those is the The Valles Marineris, biggest in the solar system and several time bigger than the Grand Canyon.
Mars has awesome geology in lots of places, but it's not safe to land multi billion dollar rovers anywhere near those places.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Due to lack of funding, we screened out the dummies via the process of elimination.
They will be missed.
October can't arrive soon enough
Neuromancer
Member
I'd go if I wasn't married. It would literally be the adventure of a life time.
Head of Vengarl
Banned
Ok, I need this to be put to rest: Did the Curiosity travel 354 or 154 million miles? I keep reading articles that have one or the other. Which is it??!!
ChuyMasta
Member
The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates the orbiter's HiRISE camera, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft
Colorado RULES
Colorado RULES
But having your rockets up high, while dangling your shit down low gets dust up in every direction. They said there was more dust than expected, but it'll blow away.
Right it won't kick up nearly as much though.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
I think it was 352 million miles.
Fenderputty
Banned
I belive it's 154. It takes a little over a year to get there correct?
(154,000,000 / 17,000 MPH) / 24 = 377 days travel time.
Then again I could be way off.
It took Curiosity 6 months and change to get to mars.
It was launched on November 26, 2011
November 26 --> August 5 = eight months and change.
Fenderputty
Banned
See ... I was way off.
So was the space craft traveling fast than 17000 MPH then? If it took less than a year and traveled 150 million miles it would have to. 350 million miles in 8 months is super fast.
EDIT: to do 150 million miles in 8 months, the space ship would need to travel at roughly 26,000-27,000 MPH
mario_O
Member
Well if it takes 13 minutes for the signal to get to earth at speed light, something like 154 million miles.
The signal comes in a straight line.
The path something that leaves earth to arrive on mars is a long curve, it's not a straight line.
Edit: there's a better picture of the path the MSL took:
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