Mars Rover Curiosity Lands successfully!! LIVE THREAD

Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) ^ | 5 Aug 2012 | JPL

[hattend]

Landing at 10:30PM Pacific...yes, this is early so all the aviation, space, astronomy and science pingers can "get 'er done".

[dragnet2]

Phobos Passes in Front of Sun's Face, Nov. 9, 2010, as seen by Mars rover Spirit.

This is far above the horizon.

[hattend]

Sure, that’s what they tell you.

The laser is actually for killing Martians. (Sorry, watching “Falling Skies”)

[JRandomFreeper]

I find myself amazed at the amount of fluffy bullstuff that NASA can generate on their media channel while they are waiting for something to happen.

Very impressive.

/johnny

[ROCKLOBSTER]

bfm

[1066AD]

Beria had humans working with bare hands to create the first Soviet bomb so it’s no surprise about the dogs.

There was a space radio listener in the UK who recorded Russian speakers in the 1960s begging to “get me down” etc. Gagarin might’ve been the first to return rather than the first to orbit.

[LibWhacker]

Thank you. I remember when I took physics in college about a million years ago, the professor said it was an unsolved problem but I immediately just wrote it off as atmospheric distortion. How wrong could I be when a simple experiment with a small pebble proves it’s an illusion? You chose your screen name well, Moonman62, you chose your screen name well. :-)

But the question remains... Is the Sun’s apparent size on Mars’ horizon also an illusion?

[dragnet2]

Spacecraft is now operating on it’s own.

All they can do is watch and monitor.

[JRandomFreeper]

?

/johnny

[hattend]

There was a space radio listener in the UK who recorded Russian speakers in the 1960s begging to “get me down” etc. Gagarin might’ve been the first to return rather than the first to orbit.

Yeah, I would love to read a tell all book about the early Soviet space program. That's just scary to think about.

[JRandomFreeper]

All they can do is watch and monitor.

They do a good job of filling the channel with fluffy stuff. Gotta give the PR folks that much. ;)

11:57 Local True Solar Time. Sun angle is 82 degrees.

/johnny

[chessplayer]

This is definitely not good for the nerves.

[LibWhacker]

Cool! Was that shot at the same magnification as the other photo? They look about the same size to me.

[jpsb]

Anyone know where I can get live telemetry info? Thanks.

[hattend]

Curiosity tweet

I’m inside the orbit of Diemos and completely on my own. Wish me luck! #MSL

[Blado]

This Just In
____________

Comrade President Imam Obama has just ordered NASA to program the rover Curiosity, immediately upon landing on Mars, perform a gay wedding ceremony for the long suffering rovers Spirit and Opportunity!

[hattend]

It seems to be working but even my DSL can’t give me streaming...grrr.

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/nasatv/

[hattend]

Have to try another source...that one is too choppy

[jpsb]

I do not have high confidence that this is going to work. Very complex landing sequence.

[this_ol_patriot]

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/mars/curiosity_news3.html

This one is working awesome for me.

[LibWhacker]

Also... Could someone update us from time to time on what NASA TV is saying? I’m watching on my computer but, unfortunately, it has a broken sound card and my wife AIN’T gonna let me interrupt the Olympics. :-(

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Problem with sending dogs into space is that they burn their faces off sticking their heads out the window on reentry.

[dfwgator]

Try CNN

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/cvplive/cvpstream2&hpt=hp_c1#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2

[hattend]

Thanks, giving it a try now.

[House Atreides]

Thanks!! Awesome here also.

[JRandomFreeper]

Historically, 2 out of 3 either miss or make a large, hot hole. JPL, though, has a history of kicking ass and taking names with MER-A and MER-B.

It is a complex landing system. Not much more than bouncing down on airbags, or bouncing around on a retro rocket like PHX.

Lots of room for failure.

Suprisingly, I have high confidence, and fully expect it to work.

/johnny

[jpsb]

Ok, ATM second eyes are looking at work station to verify all is good.

[JRandomFreeper]

Right now, they are running through checklist steps.

On a personal note, to me, some of those guys behind consoles in blue shirts look like state prisoners. ;)

/johnny

[jpsb]

Yes JPL is very good, but not much can go wrong with a bouncing ball.

[jpsb]

Second eyes report everything looks good.

[Empireoftheatom48]

This is not a bounce in!

[JRandomFreeper]

but not much can go wrong with a bouncing ball.

You need to upgrade your imagination.

/johnny

[jpsb]

Yeah, we did not have to do that back in my day. lol

[hattend]

Working alright for me...thanks!

Still some buffering but I am in the middle of nowhere.

[JRandomFreeper]

This is not a bounce in!

We hope not, but that's theory. In theory, practice and theory are the same, in practice, they aren't. ;)

/johnny

[hattend]

“To Mars!”

[Windcatcher]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2914921/posts?page=150#150

There are a lot of common EDL elements.

[jpsb]

NASA TV doing a fluff piece killing time.

[this_ol_patriot]

This whole thing is out of near-future science fiction, imagine seeing that sequence of events somewhere on Earth. Surely people would be claiming they saw an alien ship.

[chessplayer]

Far too big and heavy to land it like the other rovers.

[LibWhacker]

Thank you.

Did you find your telemetry data? I’ve been poking around but no luck yet.

[hattend]

Yep, I want one of the controllers say “Get your ass to Mars” in a thick German accent

[hattend]

Planters peanuts is a tradition going back to the Ranger missions.

[jpsb]

remember all info we get is 7 minutes old so when JPL says curiosity is entering Mars Atmos it is in fact already on the surface of Mars.

[The Cajun]

Looks like CNN is carrying it now, FOX has *Jerry Rivers* babbling about the Jacksons.

[chessplayer]

Only 20 minutes to atmosphere.

[PA Engineer]

10 minutes to cruise stage separation. JM2¢

[LibWhacker]

Lol, I noticed all those blue shirts, too. Are NASA’s scientists and engineers now wearing a uniform? Weird.

Gettin’ nervous about this landing. Darn thing’s too complex.

[LibWhacker]

OMG, this is it.

[rdl6989]

Darn thing’s too complex.

My thoughts exactly.

[dfwgator]

"Good luck....We're all counting on you."