Congratulations to the USA

[Lightwave]

Just watched the landing of the Mars Rover Curiosity landing more coverage here

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/

Just wanted to congratulate all those american members on here.
Totally inspirational

 

[Galaxiom]

Link doesn't work for me but I presume it landed safely.

Amazing given the complexity of the process involved. I think there were something like seventy pyrotechnic events alone if I remember correctly.

Since NASA's budget has been cut this is the last of the big landers on Mars so it was really important that it worked. It has a really serious digging attachment and landed in a really interesting place.

 

[Lightwave]

Yes appears to be down safely. I changed the link to get through to the main page.

The live tv broadcast was down during the landing probably because of excessive demand.

They are holding a variety of press conferences over the next 24 hours that will be televised I think but it's going to be some hours before they get more information from the surface as Gale crater rotated onto the far side of Mars. Initial phtos only about 3 show wheel on ground and views of horizon from two sides of the rover. Plus the people at Nasa are going to want to get some sleep in.

 

[Galaxiom]

The feed is relayed via an orbiter so Gale crater going the other side should not matter. Just depends when the orbiter is in view of Earth and has been somewhere it can communicate with the rover to get new data.

 

[Adam Caramon]

It is definitely very exciting. It will be interesting to see what kind of information they are able to obtain from this mission.

 

[ColinEssex]

Total waste of money - billions of dollars down the drain for what reason?

Who gives a stuff if there was a microbacteria jobbie on mars?

Surely there is enough problems here on earth to spend the money on if you have so much you want to spend it.

How about exploring the ocean depths? or working out how to get fresh water to the millions dying every day?

Col

 

[Vassago]

Total waste of money - billions of dollars down the drain for what reason?

Who gives a stuff if there was a microbacteria jobbie on mars?

Surely there is enough problems here on earth to spend the money on if you have so much you want to spend it.

How about exploring the ocean depths? or working out how to get fresh water to the millions dying every day?

Col

And what are you doing to make the world a better place? Do you volunteer at any homeless shelters, give to charities, etc...?

At any rate, there are plenty of good reasons to explore other planets and check for life. Between changing what we thought was originally required for life to exist and the possibility of finding life that could benefit us on earth, I think these breakthroughs are very important.

 

[John Big Booty]

Total waste of money - billions of dollars down the drain for what reason?

Who gives a stuff if there was a microbacteria jobbie on mars?

Surely there is enough problems here on earth to spend the money on if you have so much you want to spend it.

How about exploring the ocean depths? or working out how to get fresh water to the millions dying every day?

Col

That's a pretty short sighted views, as there is no telling what unexpected technologies and discoveries could flow from such endeavours as exploring space.

 

[Fifty2One]

Perhaps this is the same build-up we had in the 1960s when there was a race to get the technology to the point where a human would set foot on another planet. I still remember everyone watching the landing on the moon - it was spectacular.

 

[Lightwave]

....and I heard a theory that the huge investment in science and engineering associated with NASA and Apollo gave rise as a spin off to Silicon Valley. I believe the long term payoff of to these endeavours is actually massive.

 

[Beetle]

What are you guys talking about? Don't you know these are all just hoaxes?

The "moon" landing was filmed on a Super 8 camera in my uncle's basement. For the "mars" rover they obviously needed more open space, so I'm guessing Australia. Admit it JBB, you're looking out your window right now watching that rover driving around taking pictures.

I suppose you guys also subscribe to the theory that Earth is a "sphere" instead of flat.

Ridiculous.

 

[John Big Booty]

....

Admit it JBB, you're looking out your window right now watching that rover driving around taking pictures.

...

I was really hoping you weren't going to mention that, but yes I am doing quite well out of leasing the drought stricken back paddock out to NASA it makes a great analogue for Mars

 

[John Big Booty]

... oh no, I think I can hear the Black Helicopters already

 

[ColinEssex]

And what are you doing to make the world a better place? Do you volunteer at any homeless shelters, give to charities, etc...?

I don't give to any charity that has to do with foreigners or foreign countries. Too many backhanders to warlords and corrupt governments going on. There was a thing on telly that said about 30% of donations get to the people by the time "payments" have been made.

Then the money goes to fund their stupid civil wars.

Homeless shelters? Not sure we have them.

I don't understand why people have such money problems anyway. I seem to have difficulty in spending anywhere near what I net in a month. But I ain't going to give it away willy-nilly.

I like UK animal charities only - forget human ones, they haven't helped me.

Col

 

[Vassago]

I don't give to any charity that has to do with foreigners or foreign countries. Too many backhanders to warlords and corrupt governments going on. There was a thing on telly that said about 30% of donations get to the people by the time "payments" have been made.

Then the money goes to fund their stupid civil wars.

Homeless shelters? Not sure we have them.

I don't understand why people have such money problems anyway. I seem to have difficulty in spending anywhere near what I net in a month. But I ain't going to give it away willy-nilly.

I like UK animal charities only - forget human ones, they haven't helped me.

Col

If you yourself aren't willing to help with the money problems here on Earth, stop worrying about what money is used for by others.

 

[ColinEssex]

If you yourself aren't willing to help with the money problems here on Earth, stop worrying about what money is used for by others.

As you are an American, and English is not your first language, I should have realised that the subtlety of my reply would be missed by you.

I listed the genre of charities and the reasons I don't give to them, I also hinted at the charities that I do like.

Now, if you feel that animal charities are not worthwhile then fair enough. You keep sending money to Syria like your government, who are funding the President's regime there against the rebels. I am led to believe the US hands over $5million per year to the current manic president there. One guess as to what he spends it on.

Col

 

[Lightwave]

Great to see further footage. Looks like they are still checking the systems out and it's going to be a while before the drive anywhere

 

[Rx_]

Now you fur'en boyz take that thing back about 'mereican not being English. We learned in school that it was Webster who invented it. And, that flat earth thing was disproven when we drill'et those deep oil wells and nothing poked out on the other side.

It is funny how the Mars Rover took this conversation to "new places".

The robots idea for discovery is the right path for NASA and Private companies to go. The proof that Mars had an atmosphere until its smaller iron core cooled and solidified, removing it's protective magnetic field is not conclusive. Once the magnetic field was gone, the sun's solar wind simply removed the atmosphere in a very short amount of time.
The robot systems that monitor our Sun are just as amazing to me. There is a huge amount of environmental influence on our lives both short term and long term.
One interesting connection between the Sun, Earth, and Mars is our own magnetic field. The database that evaluated Capt Cook's magnetic readings during his travels are invaluable. They recorded the variations in our own magnetic field and validated modeling. The Earth's magnetic field has diminished around 25% since Gauss made his first measurements.
During our grand-children's lifetime, the north/south pole as we know it will break up to multiple random traveling poles and eventually reconfigure on opposite sides. This is nothing new, it has happened many times before.
Yeah, the study of our Sun and Mars should have huge cost savings we may not live to see. Just as Capt Cook new instrumentation was useful in ways never predicted. Thanks to those Britts who kept all those old ship logs in a safe, dry museum.

 

[Vassago]

As you are an American, and English is not your first language, I should have realised that the subtlety of my reply would be missed by you.

I listed the genre of charities and the reasons I don't give to them, I also hinted at the charities that I do like.

Now, if you feel that animal charities are not worthwhile then fair enough. You keep sending money to Syria like your government, who are funding the President's regime there against the rebels. I am led to believe the US hands over $5million per year to the current manic president there. One guess as to what he spends it on.

Col

Oh, I'm sorry. I should have realized you wouldn't possible be referring to people when you said this:

...or working out how to get fresh water to the millions dying every day?

I mean, you don't seem to much care about yourself, much less anyone else. My mistake.

 

[Rabbie]

Now you fur'en boyz take that thing back about 'mereican not being English. We learned in school that it was Webster who invented it.

Since English was around long before Webster anything that Webster invented couldn't have been English.