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[owlbeak]

Gonna be a fun night! Don't forget to watch NASA TV's coverage alongside of the Eyes software, so you can visually see what's going on live!

http://eyes.jpl.nasa.gov/

 

[Bisnic]

How long after the thing land (or crash) will we be made aware of its status? Unless we're going have live feedback from NASA every minute or so.

 

[AstroNut325]

How long after the thing land (or crash) will we be made aware of its status? Unless we're going have live feedback from NASA every minute or so.

The 10:31 PM PST time is the earliest expected landing signal return time.

 

[maquiladora]

How long after the thing land (or crash) will we be made aware of its status? Unless we're going have live feedback from NASA every minute or so.

14 minute delay from the time a signal leaves Mars to reach Earth.

 

[dabig2]

14 minute delay from the time a signal leaves Mars to reach Earth.

7 minutes actually. 14 minutes is the round trip (Earth->Mars->Earth)

 

[jgkspsx]

The whole thing will be broadcast so I'm sure we'll know as soon as they know. If anything goes wrong, though, they may not immediately know whether it has crashed.

 

[Partial Gamification]

Wired has an article with a few pics of the landing site.
Mt Sharpe:

"The images that follow show some of HiRISE’s greatest hits from Gale Crater, a preview of geological features that Curiosity may soon get to know in intimate detail."

 

[RankoSD]

7 minutes actually. 14 minutes is the round trip (Earth->Mars->Earth)

Is that correct? I've heard that when the rover reaches the atmosphere, 7 minutes will pass until it reaches the ground, so, when we receive the signal that rover reached the atmosphere it will be either dead or alive on the ground for 7 minutes, which equals to 14 minutes in one way trip for the signal.

 

[maquiladora]

7 minutes actually. 14 minutes is the round trip (Earth->Mars->Earth)

Really? NASA needs to word this a bit better then.

It takes 14 minutes for signals to travel from Mars to Earth.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/30jul_skycrane/

 

[Partial Gamification]

NASA needs to do this, NASA needs to do that... I'm kidding, here's look at it like this:

Average distance to Mars: 225 million km
speed of light: 18 million km/min

distance/velocity=time

225/18= 25/2 = 12.5 (minutes with Mars at an Average Distance from Earth)

Due to the signal time lag between Mars and Earth (it takes about 14 minutes for a signal on Mars to reach Earth), Curiosity will execute the landing autonomously, following the half a million lines of computer code designed by Earthlings.
Yeah, Al Jazeera is on this!

 

[owlbeak]

NASA needs to do this, NASA needs to do that... I'm kidding, here's look at it like this:

Average distance to Mars: 225 million km
speed of light: 18 million km/min

distance/velocity=time

225/18= 25/2 = 12.5 (minutes with Mars at an Average Distance from Earth)

Was just posting this exact thing. Thanks.

 

[Graphics Horse]

NASA needs to do this, NASA needs to do that... I'm kidding, here's look at it like this:

Average distance to Mars: 225 million km
speed of light: 18 million km/min

distance/velocity=time

225/18= 25/2 = 12.5 (minutes with Mars at an Average Distance from Earth)

Due to the signal time lag between Mars and Earth (it takes about 14 minutes for a signal on Mars to reach Earth), Curiosity will execute the landing autonomously, following the half a million lines of computer code designed by Earthlings.
Yeah, Al Jazeera is on this!

I don't think average distances have a place here, it's landing/crashing on a specific day.
The Mars-Earth distance varies by 300 million km or something. Would be helpful if I knew where it is right now.


Edit: If this is correct
http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Solar/
It's currently 1.67 AU so 14 minutes sounds about right. ( 1 AU is around 8.3 minutes )

 

[Partial Gamification]

I don't think average distances have a place here, it's landing/crashing on a specific day.
The average distance varies by 300 million km or something.

Well, we know the speed of light and if it is 14 minutes, then what is the approximate distance?

[edit:] and what is the time (in minutes) error on a signal, with respect to the average?

 

[mocolostrocolos]

A very good firend of mine, who is biologist, is involved in this project.

 

[dabig2]

Is that correct? I've heard that when the rover reaches the atmosphere, 7 minutes will pass until it reaches the ground, so, when we receive the signal that rover reached the atmosphere it will be either dead or alive on the ground for 7 minutes, which equals to 14 minutes in one way trip for the signal.

Ah, you're right. I misread it somewhere else. Thought Mars would be closer to earth by the time the shuttle actually got there (under 5 minutes is the shortest length of time it takes for light to get there when Mars is closest to us).

 

[soundscream]

Anyone else gonna watch this on their Xbox?

 

[owlbeak]

Anyone else gonna watch this on their Xbox?

I'm going to check it out, but I'll primarily be watching on my laptop. Not sure how long the Xbox stream will go for.

 

[jgkspsx]

Xbox stream goes on at 11:30 PM EST. I think they'll be showing the whole thing. Starting on Xbox and moving to PC if it ends.

 

[Ovid]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

these guys must not be sleeping

Thanks for the link. NASA TV on my iPad is now ready to go.

 

[Graphics Horse]

Well, we know the speed of light and if it is 14 minutes, then what is the approximate distance?

[edit:] and what is the time (in minutes) error on a signal, with respect to the average?

About 250 million KM so further than average, further than the Sun. If they were as close as possible it would be more like a 4 minute delay I think...

 

[Partial Gamification]

About 250 million KM so further than average, further than the Sun. If they were as close as possible it would be more like a 4 minute delay I think...

Mars had a close approach on 27 Aug 2010, about 55 million km, signal one-way just over three minuntes! The comment about being further than the sun has me imagining the inner planets orbiting around the sun. I love that starchart mobile app!

 

[owlbeak]

Last pre-landing briefing in about 15 minutes.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html

 

[PjotrStroganov]

I remember being glued to the screen when Pathfinder landed. I won't miss this!

 

[Paches]

It's on!

 

[Bowdz]

Adam Steltzner is awesome. I loved his explanation of EDL in the Engineering briefing.

 

[owlbeak]

Adam Steltzner is awesome. I loved his explanation of EDL in the Engineering briefing.

Dude is really great. Puts off a good vibe, has that "cool" factor to get kids into science and everything and is probably a nervous wreck haha

 

[Mindlog]

Not sure if mentioned yet, but I saw this and thought I'd post it,

http://majornelson.com/2012/08/02/watch-the-mars-rover-landing-on-your-xbox-360/

Apparently you'll be able to stream NASA TV through the 360 to watch the landing live.

I gotta admit that this surprised me a little, but something I'd love to see more often.

Get after them kids NASA.

 

[owlbeak]

I gotta admit that this surprised me a little, but something I'd love to see more often.

Get after them kids NASA.

Suprised me as well. They've actually given Curiosity some pretty decent real estate on the dashboard. I hope that trend continues.

 

[TheContact]

Nail-Biting version

That margin for error...NASA IS CRAZY

 

[Bowdz]

It blows my mind how much JPL improved the accuracy of Curiosity from Spirit and Opportunity. If everything goes off without a hitch, guided entry will be the biggest improvement of the entire mission IMO.

 

[Partial Gamification]

That margin for error...NASA IS CRAZY

What is crazy is that these are some of the most sane and pragmatic people on the planet.
"Dare mighty things."

 

[Bowdz]

What is crazy is that these are some of the most sane and pragmatic people on the planet.
"Dare mighty things."

That needs to be NASA's new slogan.

 

[maquiladora]

Almost there now....

 

[danwarb]

Edit: Starting to pick up speed now. It'll be going >14K mph into the atmosphere.

 

[MrCheez]

So jazzed for tonight!


SCIENCE

 

[Tacitus_]

Is the first number for hours, as in 12 hours for touchdown?

 

[maquiladora]

Is the first number for hours, as in 12 hours for touchdown?

Yep.

 

[Killthee]

is the xbox thing gold only?

Don't think so. I'm on a silver account and it let me download the viewer and launch it without nagging me about upgrading.

 

[Tacitus_]

Yep.

Guess I'll wake to the news then.

 

[owlbeak]

Also, FYI - the stream on XBL begins at 8:30PDT

 

[Wthermans]

I'll be watching tonight. Simply amazing how far our exploration of Mars has progressed. I still remember when Pathfinder landed and how crazy the air bag method seemed for landing. The skycrane is even more ballsy and I'm excited to see how successful it is.

 

[maquiladora]

NASA TV Schedule :

(EST)

3 p.m. - NASA Science News Conference Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Pre-Landing News Conference - Rover Communication overview – JPL (All Channels)

6 - 7 p.m. - NASA Science News Conference - NASA Science Mission Directorate - JPL (All Channels)

11 p.m. - Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Coverage of Entry Decent and Landing (Commentary #1 Begins 11:30 p.m.) - JPL (Public and Education Channels)

11 p.m. - Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Coverage of Entry Decent and Landing (Clean Feed with Mission Audio Only) - JPL (Media Channel)

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

 

[DrForester]

I wonder if eventually they'll drive over to the Sky Crane wreckage and snap some photos.

 

[maquiladora]

This "thumbnail" image illustrates the size of the first image expected from NASA's Curiosity rover. It was taken by a rover engineering model during a test session in the Mars Yard at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The rover model snapped the picture through the "fisheye" lens of one of its Hazard-Avoidance cameras. The thumbnail, which is 64 pixels by 64 pixels, is a smaller version of a larger image acquired by the hazard camera (full-resolution images are 1,024 by 1,024 pixels).

When Curiosity lands at 10:31 p.m. Aug. 5 PDT (1:31 a.m. Aug. 6 EDT), it will most likely not send any images back until about two hours after landing, during a second pass of NASA's signal-relaying Odyssey orbiter. However, it's possible the rover will beam back just a thumbnail the same size as this one shortly after landing.

During the second Odyssey pass, larger hazard camera images up to one-half of full resolution are expected.

As planned, Curiosity's early engineering images are lower resolution. Larger color images are expected later in the week when the rover's mast, carrying high-resolution cameras, is deployed.

 

[Paches]

Rofl, 1.5 billion for that picture. Defund NASA!

 

[metalslimer]

So is there a link to a online stream of this?

 

[maquiladora]

So is there a link to a online stream of this?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

 

[Bisnic]

I almost want to listen to that Mass Effect soundtrack when its going to be near landing time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlmekRoRL14

There's a version with more action, but i felt like it didnt fit too much, but still, there it is :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZsR6jKT8bk

 

[owlbeak]

I almost want to listen to that Mass Effect soundtrack when its going to be near landing time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlmekRoRL14

There's a version with more action, but i felt like it didnt fit too much, but still, there it is :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZsR6jKT8bk

I will prefer Surface of the Sun/Adagio in D Minor by John Murphy from the Sunshine soundtrack. So good!

 

[Bowdz]

I almost want to listen to that Mass Effect soundtrack when its going to be near landing time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlmekRoRL14

There's a version with more action, but i felt like it didnt fit too much, but still, there it is :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZsR6jKT8bk

I've been listening to this in the background of an MSL article I read. I also play the Uncharted Worlds theme anytime I use the JPL Eye on the Solar System.