-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory |OT| 2,000 Pounds of Science!
- Thread starter DrForester
- Start date
- Status
Damn the Soviet rockets are beatiful. For some reason, i've always found their shape very cool, unlike American or European rockets.
EDIT what rocket the Soviet one is?
I'm kind of glad to see the government get out of the manned space program. I think private companies may do better on innovative ways to transport humans to space.
It's sad, but now is a good time to experiment with the private sector paying the way and actual competition in the space market.
It's sad, but now is a good time to experiment with the private sector paying the way and actual competition in the space market.
maquiladora
Member
Got to think the military has/had developed some type of spaceplane. I mean, what have they been testing at Groom Lake since they finished with the F-117 in the early 80s?
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
We have plenty of very talented people at NASA, the problem is they aren't given a blank check like Von Braun was.
Private companies will not be the answer to space EXPLROATION anytime soon. It's a brilliant idea to use them for for low earth orbit stuff, but no private company is going to spend trillions to go to mars, or the Moon.
AstroNut325
Member
One thing I'm really glad to see here at NeoGaf is that I haven't come across anyone with the "Look at what they are doing with their current budget. There is no need to increase it." That mentality rings analogous to the "Look at the current gen consoles are achieving. No need for next-gen yet."
Think sort of thought really irks me.
Think sort of thought really irks me.
maquiladora
Member
Briefing starting any second : http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
Hopefully with first color pic of the descent....
Hopefully with first color pic of the descent....
What's up with the audio, are they transmitting from mars?
Clear audio here.
maquiladora
Member
Best audio on this stream : http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/edu_flash.html
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Over a decade late to the party 
Better late than never, I guess. At least we're there now.
Better late than never, I guess. At least we're there now.
maquiladora
Member
here we go....
astroturfing
Member
i dunno, i'm a bit skeptical.. Space X for example wouldn't have got far without NASA's help. if you take government completely out of the picture, i fear that a simple profit motive won't suffice when it comes to space exploration. what kind of profit could be made with a manned Mars mission for example? i fail to see a business opportunity.. (but then again i'm an idiot when it comes to business)
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
NASA helped a lot, yeah, but it's not the majority of SpaceX's funding.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Those decent images are cool. Love that one of the dust being blown by the rockets.
Fenderputty
Banned
I just don't want "for profit" to be the main reason we're going to space. I know there are ton's of resources, but it would be nice if space was something we did for the advancement of our species and not the advancement of some business people's wallets.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Video!
maquiladora
Member
God damn. That was amazing, even with only some of the frames and lowest quality.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Once more: a great video sequence. Going to look great in high-res.
British Monsoon
Member
That landing video was amazing, even in such low-res NASA's success is so hugely inspiring. Humanity, fuck yeah!
maquiladora
Member
6km high I think.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Why would the latter be such a bad thing if it helps with the former? Throughout history, profit has been a pretty big motivator for science advancement.
In the case of space where the science advancement is clear but the profit motive is not, well-funded government agencies like NASA are nice to get things started, but if a bunch of billionaires want to fund space exploration in the hopes of making a profit and/or cementing their names in history, who am I to argue?
astroturfing
Member
yeah.
but in the end though, i don't care how it gets done, as long as we truly start exploring stuff thoroughly. (Europa's vast oceans.. someone GET TO WORK, NOW!)
and despite my skepticism i totally welcome any eccentric billionaire investing their wealth into space-related projects
it's certainly what i would do.A 20,000 ft hill.
Stormwatch
Member
For reference Everest is 29,000 feet.
Joel Was Right
Member
NASA is already part of the military - it is a branch of the Department of Defence
BruiserBear
Banned
I had the same thought when that guy said they'll soon be able to present a much higher res version of that.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
This first pic is going to become truly iconic within a larger historical context. I just know it. Interesting angle, and a great view of Mt. Sharp.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
How do they determine the mountains heights? By that I mean, hereon Earth i's height above sea level. What is 0 on Mars?
- Status