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Mars Curiosity

Started by Hoss, August 03, 2012, 07:12:28 PM

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Hoss

August 03, 2012, 07:12:28 PM
Being the science geek I am, I cannot believe I did not know about this.

It is supposed to land Sunday night/Monday morning.  Think of the two Mars rovers that landed in 2004 (both the size of shopping carts) but on steroids, as this rover is the size of a Mini Cooper.  No airbag system for this.  This is to use a 'skycrane' to deploy the rover.  Essentially, from what I can tell, it has the rover in it's undercarriage attached to some tethers, this landing unit will hover at about 20 meters as it lowers the tethers with the rover attached to the surface, then severs the tethers and the hovering unit flies away to a safe distance.

Hell of an engineering feat if it works.

nathanm

#1
August 03, 2012, 08:00:55 PM
Crazy stuff. The video I saw yesterday seemed a lot more slick than the old nasa videos. I like how they openly admit it's more than a little nutty.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

Teatownclown

#2
August 03, 2012, 08:06:51 PM
http://www.ustream.tv/blog/2012/07/31/get-excited-the-mars-rover-landing-will-be-live-on-ustream/


Sunday, August 5
NASA Mars Rover Landing
8:30 to 10:45 p.m. PT
Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Coverage and Commentary #1 – Entry Descent and Landing

I think this is the time for the landing.....we can watch it together at the link above! Let me know if I am mistaken about the actual landing....

Enjoy!

TheArtist

#3
August 03, 2012, 11:21:14 PM
  Been waiting for this for a long time.  The whole breaking and landing thing seems craaaazy.  But boy if it works this rover in this location has some excellent chances to really increase our knowledge about the history of Mars.  Keeping fingers crossed.
"When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other."-Chinese proverb. "Arts a staple. Like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Mans spirit grows hungry for art in the same way h

Conan71

#4
August 04, 2012, 12:02:36 AM
Quote from: Teatownclown on August 03, 2012, 08:06:51 PM
http://www.ustream.tv/blog/2012/07/31/get-excited-the-mars-rover-landing-will-be-live-on-ustream/


Sunday, August 5
NASA Mars Rover Landing
8:30 to 10:45 p.m. PT
Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Coverage and Commentary #1 – Entry Descent and Landing

I think this is the time for the landing.....we can watch it together at the link above! Let me know if I am mistaken about the actual landing....

Enjoy!

Do you have any idea how many carcinogens were released over the US on that launch?
"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first" -Ronald Reagan

Hoss

#5
August 04, 2012, 08:11:53 AM
Quote from: Conan71 on August 04, 2012, 12:02:36 AM
Do you have any idea how many carcinogens were released over the US on that launch?

Well played.

Teatownclown

#6
August 04, 2012, 10:01:54 AM
Crownan, up late drinking or just cosmically stupid?

One time shot versus daily extremes. That equates.

Boy, you need hope for a cure.

Hoss, cs.

Red Arrow

#7
August 04, 2012, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: Teatownclown on August 04, 2012, 10:01:54 AM
One time shot versus daily extremes. That equates.

A one time extra dose of water compared the normal high and low flow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnstown_Flood

 

nathanm

#8
August 04, 2012, 08:56:41 PM
Quote from: Conan71 on August 04, 2012, 12:02:36 AM
Do you have any idea how many carcinogens were released over the US on that launch?

Can't say for sure, but probably zero. Hydrogen and oxygen obviously only produces water. I believe the complete oxidization of kerosene produces only carbon dioxide and water.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

Red Arrow

#9
August 05, 2012, 12:48:00 PM
Quote from: nathanm on August 04, 2012, 08:56:41 PM
Can't say for sure, but probably zero. Hydrogen and oxygen obviously only produces water. I believe the complete oxidization of kerosene produces only carbon dioxide and water.

Can't say for sure, but probably not zero.

It might be zero in a closed system with a perfect process.  Blasting up through the atmosphere isn't really a laboratory environment. Jet fuel is essentially clean kerosene.  Ever see a smoke (not condensation) trail after a jet aircraft?
 

Hoss

#10
August 05, 2012, 01:05:56 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on August 05, 2012, 12:48:00 PM
Can't say for sure, but probably not zero.

It might be zero in a closed system with a perfect process.  Blasting up through the atmosphere isn't really a laboratory environment. Jet fuel is essentially clean kerosene.  Ever see a smoke (not condensation) trail after a jet aircraft?

Miniscule amounts I'm sure.

But I'm more stoked to see if this thing gets done, after watching videos and reading up on it.  For Spirit/Endeavor, I knew months ahead.  Then again, my brother is a little more geeky than I and I was startled he didn't give me the head's up about this around Independence Day.  Oh well, didn't miss it.  Appears landing is on track for 12:31 am our time.

Press briefing given earlier this morning.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/24467433

nathanm

#11
August 05, 2012, 02:19:22 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on August 05, 2012, 12:48:00 PM
Can't say for sure, but probably not zero.

It might be zero in a closed system with a perfect process.  Blasting up through the atmosphere isn't really a laboratory environment. Jet fuel is essentially clean kerosene.  Ever see a smoke (not condensation) trail after a jet aircraft?

Jets don't carry a liquid oxygen oxidizer.

However, seeing that this was launched on an Atlas V, we can say that it was kerosene in the first stage and hydrogen in subsequent stages.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

Hoss

#12
August 06, 2012, 12:49:44 AM
Success!

joiei

#13
August 06, 2012, 07:45:53 AM
It's hard being a Diamond in a rhinestone world.

carltonplace

#14
August 06, 2012, 10:07:53 AM
^Awesome^
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