BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) 2000 miles away nowLive here:http://news.cnet.com...-rover-landing/Feel free to move to Social after a bit.Now 5 mins to atmosphere entry.2 mins to entry. 800 miles. Should actually be on the surface now one way or the other. 14 minute delay due to distance.15 km Parchute deploy.Powered Flight. Sky Crane readyTouchdown confirmed. No pics yet.Pretty exciting. It was a complicated operation. First images downloaded. Edited August 6, 2012 by BCSpace 1
Stargazer Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 This is why the "space" in bcspace."star" in Stargazer!NASA reports via Twitter that the lander is safely down and has transmitted its first images. Way cool!The first images are not very clear because of the dust cover on the lens (protecting against the dust the landing threw up). Sun is just setting on the landing site, so we have to wait until sunrise on Mars tomorrow (today here? not sure) to see what else is visible.
Libs Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 This is why the "space" in bcspace.Cool. Are you old enough to remember the moon landings? Now, that was exciting, I think, especially since there were men involved. Made it all the more tense, as far as having a safe landing and return.
Stargazer Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Go HERE:http://eyes.nasa.gov/exit.htmlFor some simulations of the landing -- cool NASA software.
BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) I was just a baby thru toddler during the moon landings. I recall Skylab and everything after. The Viking landers were just as exciting as this. Edited August 6, 2012 by BCSpace
smac97 Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 "star" in Stargazer!NASA reports via Twitter that the lander is safely down and has transmitted its first images. Way cool!The first images are not very clear because of the dust cover on the lens (protecting against the dust the landing threw up). Sun is just setting on the landing site, so we have to wait until sunrise on Mars tomorrow (today here? not sure) to see what else is visible.I watched the landing with my wife and daughter. It was quite exciting. My wife got a bit misty at all the nerdy exuberance exhibited by the scientists involved in the program in the control room.Ah! I wish I was a nerd like that.-Smac
Tacenda Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 I'm glad that the space program is still alive and kicking. Thanks for reminding me about this story BCSpace! I'd watched an earlier news broadcast where they mentioned a contest to name the spacecraft and it was a young girl that gave it the name "Curiosity".Can't wait for the dust to clear and be able to see it more clearly tomorrow, woo hoo!
BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 This is why the "space" in bcspace."star" in Stargazer!
BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 I hope they replay the final 10 mins for you. Very cool.
BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) I watched the landing with my wife and daughter. It was quite exciting. My wife got a bit misty at all the nerdy exuberance exhibited by the scientists involved in the program in the control room.Ah! I wish I was a nerd like that.Think of all those nerdy salaries in that room and you begin to see why it cost 2.5 billion. Of course it is the government so subtract some salary but add for things like gold plated tinfoil and other shiny things engineers require. Edited August 6, 2012 by BCSpace
Stargazer Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 I was just a baby thru toddler during the moon landings. I recall Skylab and everything after. The Viking landers were just as exciting as this.Being an old guy, I got to watch it LIVE on network TV. I was about 17. Wonderful memory.
19nazzy Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Think of all those nerdy salaries in that room and you begin to see why it cost 2.5 billion. Of course it is the government so subtract some salary but add for things like gold plated tinfoil and other shiny things engineers require.$2.5 Billion for learning more about our universe vs. $14+ billion for the current Olympics going on (I realize it is a different country). Or the trillions of dollars spent on war in other countries. Let them have their gold plated tinfoil
Calm Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Of course it is the government so subtract some salary but add for things like gold plated tinfoil and other shiny things engineers require.I have to admit that when you said "gold plated tinfoil" I flashed to a bunch of nerds sitting around with gold tinfoil hats on...took me a second to readjust.
Calm Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Being an old guy, I got to watch it LIVE on network TV. I was about 17. Wonderful memory.I was ten.
BCSpace Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 Of course it is the government so subtract some salary but add for things like gold plated tinfoil and other shiny things engineers require.I have to admit that when you said "gold plated tinfoil" I flashed to a bunch of nerds sitting around with gold tinfoil hats on...took me a second to readjust.Indeed. Here is an example:It's just a euphemism among engineers: shiny, gold plated tinfoil, etc. and refers to any number of expensive, but necessary items.
cursor Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Are you old enough to remember the moon landings?Yup. I was a senior in high school -- 17 years old and working at Sambo's Restaurant headquarters (architectural group) in Santa Barbara. We listened to reports of the event on a radio broadcast. Amazing stuff ... similar to the coolness of this Mars landing.
ERayR Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Being an old guy, I got to watch it LIVE on network TV. I was about 17. Wonderful memory.Being an older guy I watched Pres. Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon.
KevinG Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Indeed. Here is an example:It's just a euphemism among engineers: shiny, gold plated tinfoil, etc. and refers to any number of expensive, but necessary items.I wonder if tens of generations from now someone will complain about the writings of our day claiming there is no way a spacecraft could have lifted off with layers of gold, the plates would just be too heavy to lift! 1
thesometimesaint Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 I'm so old I remember when the moon was made of green cheese.
USU78 Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Being an older guy I watched Pres. Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon. Me2, ERay
ERayR Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 I'm so old I remember when the moon was made of green cheese. I think it was a cheese shortage that prompted Kennedy's push to go there.
Scott Lloyd Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) I was ten.I was 15.Our family was speaking in sacrament meeting on that day (a Sunday) in July 1969. The bishop hinted that we should close early so everyone could get home and watch the moon landing on TV. We were happy to oblige.After the Eagle touched down, the astronauts waited several hours before getting out of the craft. My mom remarked, "I could have stayed and given my sermon." Edited August 7, 2012 by Scott Lloyd 2
ERayR Posted August 7, 2012 Posted August 7, 2012 I was 15.Our family was speaking in sacrament meeting on that day (a Sunday) in July 1969. The bishop hinted that we should close early so everyone could get home and watch the moon landing on TV. We were happy to oblige.After the Eagle touched down, the astronauts waited several our before getting out of the craft. My mom remarked, "I could have stayed and given my sermon."I gave that point for your mom.
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