ChiefsPlanet - Science With Mars mission and rover Curiosity, NASA hunts building blocks of life

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With Mars mission and rover Curiosity, NASA hunts building blocks of life (https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=261942)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 8794845)

Amazing. MRO snapped a picture of Curiosity descending under the parachute:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/6..._1600-1200.jpg

Thats frikken awesome on so many levels. Sometimes I think doing astrophotography is insanely difficult and then I see stuff like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 8794847)

Another:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/6...-full_full.jpg

HTF can they take those kinds of pictures? Amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 8794689)

In a perfect world, I think government shouldn't do big projects in a good economy and build up their resources to do projects in a bad economy. In a bad economy they'll get better pricing on goods and services because firms are hungry, and they'll also help regulate the economy by filling in the trough at the bottom of recessions. It's an all-around win.

Of course, a long-term project like this or the Interstate Highway System or whatever will likely transcend short-term economic fluctuations. It's probably more for local governments or maybe state government. If I was building a library or airport or something that takes five years or less, I'd want to use this system if I'm a smart local government.

The challenge, of course, will be holding on to your resources during the good times without making it look like you're hoarding. If we trusted our government and if our government really looked out for our money, it would work, but I'm not sure that either is really true.

not so sure they can be trusted....they did spend $600 for hammers and $300 for toilet seats in the past

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 8794845)

Amazing. MRO snapped a picture of Curiosity descending under the parachute:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/6..._1600-1200.jpg

Holy shit that's one of the coolest things ever......

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass (Post 8794856)

HTF can they take those kinds of pictures? Amazing.

That was apparently taken by the HiRISE camera onboard the MRO, which is in orbit around Mars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 8794869)

That was apparently taken by the HiRISE camera onboard the MRO, which is in orbit around Mars.

Wicked. Thanks for posting.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EQ96oEwYrE8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For those who are curious, this isn't the first time MRO has taken such a picture. Here's what MRO took of the Phoenix lander:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ce_Orbiter.jpg

Quote:

Computers: The two identical on-board rover computers, called "Rover Compute Element" (RCE), contain radiation hardened memory to tolerate the extreme radiation from space and to safeguard against power-off cycles. Each computer's memory includes 256 KB of EEPROM, 256 MB of DRAM, and 2 GB of flash memory.[19] This compares to 3 MB of EEPROM, 128 MB of DRAM, and 256 MB of flash memory used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.[20]
The RCE computers use the RAD750 CPU, which is a successor to the RAD6000 CPU used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.[21][22] The RAD750 CPU is capable of up to 400 MIPS, while the RAD6000 CPU is capable of up to 35 MIPS.[23][24] Of the two on-board computers, one is configured as backup, and will take over in the event of problems with the main computer.[19]
The rover has an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that provides 3-axis information on its position, which is used in rover navigation.[19] The rover's computers are constantly self-monitoring to keep the rover operational, such as by regulating the rover's temperature.[19] Activities such as taking pictures, driving, and operating the instruments are performed in a command sequence that is sent from the flight team to the rover.[19]

One would think that the computers in this rover would be a bit more robust.

Is one of its 10 functions the ability to make crop circles? when are we gonna get back at them?

Its nice to be able to move the MRO's orbit to capture photos like these.

Its time to put a man on Mars

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 8794881)

For those who are curious, this isn't the first time MRO has taken such a picture. Here's what MRO took of the Phoenix lander:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ce_Orbiter.jpg

I wouldn't have wanted to be there when that crater was created.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC (Post 8794903)

Its time to put a man on Mars

I don't really see what the benefit would be, we can just devote the funding and effort to sending ever more advanced landers.

It would be horrendously costly to try to get meat there just to say we did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC (Post 8794903)

Its time to put a man on Mars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manned_...ars#Challenges