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Author
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Topic: Mars Landers
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spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-03-2004 10:31 AM
  
I wish the team well later tonight (GMT time) with the landing of 'Spirit'Just like the JPl/NASA and university teams, I've got the 'opportunity' tonight to follow and,as its still New Year celebrations,I've got the 'spirit' as well - hoepfully to do awee darm toast to the success. All the very very best tonight.
Phill
UK
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Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-03-2004 12:57 PM
Good link with detailed timetable and pictures: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/tl_entry1.html
What Mars looks like right now from Spirit (this is a LIVE and accurate simulated view if you hit "refresh" on your browser):
Bigger live view here:
http://mars1.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/realtime/mera1.jpg
[This message has been edited by Scott (edited January 03, 2004).] [This message has been edited by Scott (edited January 03, 2004).] |
Carrie
Member Posts: 225
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-03-2004 06:09 PM
I'm more excited for this than New Year's Eve - I'm actually going to stay up this time!  Hehehe! I'll be joining all those in front of NASA TV with my popcorn later!Fingers crossed, C |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-03-2004 07:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Carrie:
I'm more excited for this than New Year's Eve -
New Year's Eve comes every year. It isn't every year we are landing on Mars! I spent New Years Eve scuba diving in the dark scary Puget Sound. 50 feet down with a champaign bottle passing it to each person and trying to take a swig. It tasted a little salty, but was more fun than a "normal" new years party! Tom
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Carrie
Member Posts: 225
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-03-2004 08:24 PM
Wow, that does sound more exciting (though if I tried that, I'd probably choke to death)! I've never been scuba diving, though if I ever go to weeklong Space Camp, I'll learn then (for the underwater "astronaut" training)! -C |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-03-2004 11:23 PM
10 minutes until landing. I'm watching NASA TV live right now. Looking good so far. 6 minutes until re-entry. Go go go!
Tom
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-03-2004 11:55 PM
WOOO HOOO!!!! Lost the signal for a bit, but now it is on Mars right side up, and transmitting a strong signal!
Cooooool! I can't wait to see pictures.
Tom
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-04-2004 12:47 AM
From http://spacetoday.net/ NASA's Spirit Mars rover has successfully landed on Mars, project officials report. The spacecraft landed on Mars at 11:35 pm EST Saturday (0435 GMT Sunday) after a six-minute descent phase. Spacecraft controllers had an intermittent signal around that time indicating the spacecraft was bounding across the surface on its airbags, but it took about 15 minutes to finally get a strong signal indicating the spacecraft had come to rest and was in good condition. The spacecraft came to rest on its base petal, simplifying the process of deflating the airbags and unfolding the petals. The first images from the spacecraft on the surface could be transmitted as soon as later today, although it will be about nine days before the rover leaves the lander itself. |
STEVE SMITH
unregistered
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posted 01-04-2004 01:33 AM
I just got back from spending 5 hours with about 170 people at Exploration Place Planetarium in Wichita. We had briefings by the director and several films, including a projection of how the sky looked from Mars at time of landing, including the setting earth.
We also had a live 20 minute phone call with one of the JPL engineers before the landing.We then watched the NASA TV live coverage of the JPL Mission Control, then the Press Conference. How blessed this project was to date-everything went right And what excitement seeing all 170 of us, including many school age kids, obvioulsy very excitied, cheer at each piece of good news like we were at a pep rally. And how silent it got while we waited for signal confirmation during the bouncing. I felt very proud to be a "nerd" tonight, and a citizen of Earth. Life is good. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-04-2004 02:52 AM
The first images just came in. They are showing them on NASA TV right now. |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-04-2004 04:33 AM
Coingratulations to all at NASA/JPL
Excellent beginning for Spiit On Mars.Those few early pictures are magnificent.
Can't wait to see thelater,processed images - especially as a geologist in spare time. I noted that they warmed up the release latches pyrotechnics some 40 minutes eralier than originally planned just
before descent. Anybody attending the 'special events' know why they did that ? Just an added precaution just to get them heated-up ?
Phill
UK
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