Posts: 3396 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 08-06-2012 05:52 PM
On the evening before the landing, at dinner with my wife on holiday on Jersey (Channel Islands, not NJ!) I confessed that I feared that Curiosity would crash, "but if makes it down safely, we'll celebrate with champagne tomorrow night."
Well, it was an expensive promise, but very enjoyable!
Cheers! (Hic!)
sev8n Member
Posts: 261 From: Dallas TX USA Registered: Jul 2012
posted 08-06-2012 06:31 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Oreo paid tribute to Curiosity's landing...
I can't quite make out the Morse-code in the tracks...
Scott Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
posted 08-06-2012 06:58 PM
They have released the video of the landing. Wow. At the end of it you can actually see the dust being kicked up by the rockets.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-06-2012 10:10 PM
I am having a "Whoa" moment right now. That is a rather cool stop motion video, almost as iconic as the Apollo 11 LM descent and landing footage.
posted 08-07-2012 11:58 AM
Bravo to to JPL and to NASA!!!
What is the reaction of the newspapers in your town? The Wall Street Journal had a front page article and USA today had a nice piece. However, each had a tinge of "is NASA still necessary?" to it.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3396 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 08-07-2012 12:11 PM
Nothing short of nuclear war is going to shift the Olympics off the British front pages, but the Times today has a decent two-page spread (pages 14 and 15) covering the landing.
I do think it a PR problem that we still haven't seen any high resolution images. I suspect many people who lack detailed knowledge about Curiosity but are broadly sympathetic might be tempted to think that the low-res thumbnails represent poor value for $2.5 billion. By this stage, Viking, Mars Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity and Phoenix had produced far better images. I understand the reasons, but I don't need to be convinced. Others do.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2012 12:30 PM
First color image of landscape (taken by MAHLI, though with dusty dust cover still attached) released...
And Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has spotted Curiosity on the surface...
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 08-07-2012 01:30 PM
quote:Originally posted by Fra Mauro: What is the reaction of the newspapers in your town?
Back of the news section, page 'A7.' Then again this newspaper has never been big on science at all.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2012 01:37 PM
Keep in the mind the placement may have also had to do with the hour it was happening. On the east coast, the landing was at 1:31 a.m. — and the press conference was an hour later.
Many papers would have already locked their front page/section to go to print...
Gonzo Member
Posts: 598 From: Holland, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2012
posted 08-07-2012 01:42 PM
quote:Originally posted by Fezman92: Then again this newspaper has never been big on science at all.
That's because science news doesn't sell.
Why? Because most people don't understand/appreciate what it can/has done for us. Just this morning in my weekly staff meeting (my office has 6 people) was asked, "Why did we go to the moon anyway? Why did we spend $2B+ on going to Mars? What will we ever get from it? What's the purpose of NASA anyway? We certainly don't get anything from it. OK, so we got velcro. Big deal. What else?" At which point my tongue started bleeding from me biting it to keep from starting an argument with them.
Sad, but true.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2012 01:56 PM
My experience (and based on discussions with numerous news outlets' editors) is that it's not about science and it's not about a lack of appreciation for the space program. It's about pretty pictures.
The New York Times (for example) consistently puts Hubble Space Telescope images on its front page because the images sell papers. Had it been technically possible to transmit a high resolution color panorama moments after landing, nearly every newspaper in the world would have run with it — because pictures sell papers, not words (ironically).
Aztecdoug Member
Posts: 1405 From: Huntington Beach Registered: Feb 2000
posted 08-07-2012 02:08 PM
Looks like NASA flight director Bobak Ferdowsi, aka, Mohawk Guy, is generating quite a positive stir. I even saw a bit about him on the national news last night. One blogger even wrote that he was adorkable...
I understand he does something different with his hair for each mission? I guess Kranz had his vest so what the heck.
If it helps bring more fans and money to what JPL does I say you gotta go with it. Good for them, it is fine by me.
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Many papers would have already locked their front page/section to go to print...
Because of the hour of the landing, I didn't expect anything in the papers until Tuesday. If your newspaper wrote a good story about Curiosity, you should give them positive feedback. We have to let them know that some of their readers want to read something meaningful.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2012 02:21 PM
quote:Originally posted by Aztecdoug: I understand he does something different with his hair for each mission? I guess Kranz had his vest so what the heck.
Indeed. Here's what they told us during a pre-landing press conference:
His tradition — and he's had this tradition through all of our system tests and launch and big events during cruise — he basically comes up with a unique hair style every time. He's very well known for this.
Before EDL [entry, descent and landing], actually a few months ago, we actually had a flight team vote what his hair style should be and the flight team, the majority ruled on "Stars and Stripes..."
I hear he's going to be a guest on National Public Radio's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!"
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 08-07-2012 04:54 PM
I head that he is also going to do a Q&A on Reddit. When I find out when that is going to happen I will join it.
Rick Boos Member
Posts: 851 From: Celina, Ohio Registered: Feb 2000
posted 08-07-2012 05:28 PM
Reference the above photo showing the sky crane, back shell, and heat shield, are they within Gale crater? If so, any chance that Curiosity will drive over to them like Spirit and or Opportunity did?
I think it would be worth while in that you could examine the soil beneath the surface, not to mention it would provide some interesting photos.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2012 05:31 PM
All the components are inside Gale Crater, however there are no plans for Curiosity to visit them. The rover's full focus, once mobile, is going to be the layers of rock stacked alongside Mount Sharp.
bwhite1976 Member
Posts: 287 From: Belleville, IL Registered: Jun 2011
posted 08-07-2012 08:02 PM
quote:Originally posted by Rick Boos: If so, any chance that Curiosity will drive over to them like Spirit and or Opportunity did?
I was thinking the same thing. Would love to see a close up pic of the sky crane as it looks like it took quite a tumble when it hit the ground. Understandably though, this mission is about the science so it makes perfect sense not to visit the components as I am sure that would equate to millions of dollars of man hours and time. Although, from an engineering standpoint, it would seem there would be some information gleaned from going over and taking a look.
davidcwagner Member
Posts: 917 From: Albuquerque, New Mexico Registered: Jan 2003
posted 08-07-2012 08:14 PM
There is an interesting triple point almost due east of Curiosity where 3 dissimilar terrains meet (assume north at top). It is even closer than the backshell to the west.
My bet for 1st target of Curiosity.
JPSastro Member
Posts: 170 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2009
posted 08-07-2012 09:53 PM
I think that they would want to stay away from the sky crane remains, since that area would be contaminated with fuel residue and such, putting the sensor packages at risk. Could really skew results in the long term. Just a thought.
posted 08-07-2012 10:23 PM
Apparently the back shell and parachute, and the sky crane ended up about a quarter mile away downstream from Curiosity; while the heat shield is about a half a mile upstream. At today's news conference they confirmed that the rover will not get anywhere close to those components for the reasons mentioned here previously. They did confirm that they were contemplating looking at the sky crane from afar.
Scott Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
posted 08-08-2012 09:58 AM
We've already seen a low-resolution movie clip of Curiosity's descent, as recorded by the Mars Descent Imager. This is the first high-resolution frame to be sent down.
Eventually, hundreds of frames will be transmitted to Earth and combined to create a high-res movie showing the rover's-eye view of Curiosity's touchdown on the Red Planet.
cspg Member
Posts: 6284 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 08-08-2012 02:27 PM
There are mountains on Mars!?!?
dogcrew5369 Member
Posts: 760 From: Statesville, NC Registered: Mar 2009
posted 08-08-2012 02:37 PM
My first thought was they look like my neighborly Blue Ridge Mountains here in North Carolina. Awesome view just without the trees.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2339 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 08-08-2012 03:56 PM
Speaking of public awareness, I was thrilled at work the other day when I saw the parachute photo and had to show some coworkers. They looked at it like a deer in the headlights look, and just said "oh, I did here something about Mars". *sigh*
Now let me find my napkin to wipe the drool from my chin after seeing those mountains in the distance. Such amazing stuff, I don't care what anyone says!
Fezman92 Member
Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010
posted 08-08-2012 04:48 PM
quote:Originally posted by cspg: There are mountains on Mars!?!?
As long as there aren't any Ice Warriors living over there I am fine.
Gonzo Member
Posts: 598 From: Holland, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2012
posted 08-08-2012 07:44 PM
Or Tharks!
I only hope NASA plays this up for all they can get out of it. While my coworkers don't appreciate what it means, I haven't been this excited since the launch of the first shuttle!
Go NASA!!!!!
Philip Member
Posts: 6118 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 08-09-2012 08:11 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: ...because pictures sell papers, not words (ironically).
O.K. Robert, pictures and papers... we all know a good picture says more than a thousand words.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-09-2012 08:31 AM
The sky crane crash site won't be visited since it is now essentially a toxic hydrazine waste dump. I was also wondering why the rover is going to take a month before it starts driving, but I have to wonder if there were similar concerns from the rocket exhaust plumes. So, wait a month to test the systems and let any potential residue drop to safe levels... just in case (all while making sure to do a thorough checkout and calibration of the onboard systems).
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1698 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 08-09-2012 08:49 AM
quote:Originally posted by Jay Chladek: The sky crane crash site won't be visited since it is now essentially a toxic hydrazine waste dump.
Ahem. "Descent stage" crash site. Sky crane is the name of the maneuver, the hardware is the descent stage.
The reason for the wait really doesn't have to do with exhaust residuals, but checkout and to do a complete photo survey of the area. MER took a few weeks before they moved.
Saturn V Member
Posts: 176 From: Golden, Colorado, USA Registered: Nov 2006
posted 08-09-2012 11:23 AM
quote:Originally posted by cspg: There are mountains on Mars!?!?
For the picture of the mountain range (which is really cool by the way), what direction is the camera looking? I want to get some kind of orientation here so I can better understand what's going on.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-09-2012 11:32 AM
As the caption explains, those really aren't mountains in the classical sense, but rather the rim of Gale Crater...
The topography of the rim is very mountainous due to erosion.
The view in this panorama is of the north Gale Crater rim.
Saturn V Member
Posts: 176 From: Golden, Colorado, USA Registered: Nov 2006
posted 08-09-2012 11:50 AM
Thank you Robert. Then that means the numbers at the bottom of the picture are a compass heading although I do not know if Mars has a magnetic field to orient a compass.
Good information for future reference.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-09-2012 01:09 PM
For additional context, as discussed during today's media briefing, the rim's "mountains" are only about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) higher than the surface on which Curiosity sits.
By comparison, Mount Sharp, at the center of Gale Crater, is 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) high.
canyon42 Member
Posts: 241 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2006
posted 08-09-2012 03:33 PM
The rim surface may not be as high above Curiosity as the central peak, but 1.2 miles is still pretty impressive — that's over 7,000 feet. Close to the same as standing in the valley of Jackson Hole and looking up at the top of the Grand Tetons.
quote:Originally posted by Jim Behling: Sky crane is the name of the maneuver, the hardware is the descent stage.
No use to keep trying to make that distinction since the JPL website (photo above) even labels the descent stage remains as "Sky crane".
canyon42 Member
Posts: 241 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2006
posted 08-09-2012 03:54 PM
One thing that really caught my eye about the photo from above the site was how large the dark "ring" around Curiosity is. Those rockets really stirred things up, unless that's another coincidental site feature.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47717 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-09-2012 03:59 PM
The mission team has said they aren't sure yet whether the discoloration of the surrounding soil is contamination from the retrorockets or bedrock being exposed.
They said today there is an eagerness among the team to use the ChemCam laser to analyze the chemical makeup of the disturbed areas.
DChudwin Member
Posts: 1117 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000
posted 08-09-2012 09:12 PM
As images start coming back from Curiosity, a "must see" website is Emily Lakdawalla's blog. She is a planetary geologist associated with the Planetary Society who is an expert in image processing. She has posted today a colorized version of part of the Navcam panorama which was released earlier. Be sure to check out her blog on a regular basis.
DChudwin Member
Posts: 1117 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000
posted 08-10-2012 05:03 PM
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory team at JPL is posting raw images of Mars from Curiosity's cameras, including the first shots from the high-resolution Mastcams. This is an important step in transparency and engaging the public. Before this, raw images have been available on-line for some NASA spacecraft (Cassini) but not others (Dawn). Hat tip to NASA and JPL for their openness.
posted 08-06-2012 05:52 PM
Then again this newspaper has never been big on science at all.
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