Curiosity - Mars Science Laboratory

Gale crater LOW RES Panoramic shot in colour with a hi-res coming soon.

MCkZ2x.webp
 
I can clearly remember my father waking me up to watch the moon landing on TV in 1968 as if it were yesterday. He said to me, "remember this always, you are seeing history made before your eyes". The significance of the event was lost on me being 6 years old at the time, but as I've grown older, the remarkable accomplishments of human space exploration boggles my mind. If humans can accomplish feats such as that then, and this now and everything in between, there should be nothing we can't do if we truly put our hearts and minds in it 110%.
 
John said:
If humans can accomplish feats such as that then, and this now and everything in between, there should be nothing we can't do if we truly put our hearts and minds in it 110%.
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Reading your post reminded me of Stephen Hawking's documentary on time travel. I think NetFlix has it on streaming.
 
Shelley said:
You have to appreciate the time spent developing the rover, working on it for years and getting it to this point they are conducting tests making sure the rover and all of it's components are working. It's not a matter of Land >> Drive and take photos. I'm watching the live stream now and they are speaking about doing some tests tomorrow and using the hi-res mast cam and doing a mid tier to low tier 2 pass 360.

They'll also be upping the data rates on the orbiters i'm assuming to get more images back to earth and the fact the multitude of instruments warrant a higher data rate than previous rovers due to the amount of images curiosity will take.

The HD stuff will come once all tests have been conducted.

live stream: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl
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It's been pretty awesome that they've involved the public so much in the details of how the rover mission really works. I'm impressed with the reception technology that's allowing "direct to home" communication at all, especially given the power levels available.
 
Jason said:
It's been pretty awesome that they've involved the public so much in the details of how the rover mission really works. I'm impressed with the reception technology that's allowing "direct to home" communication at all, especially given the power levels available.
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(y)
 
Here are three generations of Mars rovers side by side. Curiosity is an elephant.

3generationsrovers1.webp


"Front and center is the flight spare for 1997′s Sojourner (under 24 pounds, two feet long), left is a test rover for 2004′s Spirit and Opportunity (400 pounds, 5.2 feet long), and right is a test rover for Curiosity (2,000 pounds, 10 feet long). Standing in the middle for scale are JPL eggheads Matt Robinson and Wesley Kuykendall."

http://www.animalnewyork.com/2012/curiosity-rover-roundup-first-color-panorama/
 
ArnyVee said:
I gotta say, the video of the descent and landing is so awesome. Watched it again and again and still get chills each time.

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

When 'touchdown' is confirmed and everyone cannot contain their excitement.... just a great moment! :D
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Same here Arny. NASA just seem to do everything right. They get the public involved, they innovate and they share this innovation which for me will improve humanity endeavor to eventually go to the moon, mars and hopefully to the stars beyond our solar system.

A truly momentous time will be if/when all the space agencies will unite and create one global space agency to pull even more resources together but more importantly the funding because I honestly think space is the future for humanity.

Anyway, regarding nasa they have a few missions that are still pending (pending till they get to their location) Juno (mission to jupiter) and New Horizons (mission flyby) past pluto. Those are their other missions I've been following for many years now and excited about.

Edit: *watches landing on mars again*
 
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has its own YouTube channel. They started uploading report videos on Curiosity's activities.

The first report:
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Here is the actual video of Curiosity's heat shield being dropped on landing:
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