Curiosity Has Landed!

[Structo]

I have been following this mission to Mars with a lot of interest.

Especially the innovative way they decided to land the rover which was too big and heavy for the traditional air bag landing.

As the craft enters the atmosphere, it starts slowing and at about 7 miles altitude the parachute deploys.

At about 1 mile altitude the descent craft separates and the powered flight of the hover craft begins.

A rocket powered hover craft descends to about 20 meters, then a rope and pulley system (sky crane) lowers the rover to the surface.
Then the bridal is cut and the hover craft flies away.

It all went as planned and after landing the rover sent the first picture back to earth.

I can't wait for some of the experiments to be complete which are designed to see if life ever existed or is possible on Mars.

[img2063]http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/6673 ... v-2900.jpg[/img]

[NickC]

What happens to the hover-craft?

Can I claim salvage rights?

[Structo]

Sure if you can get to it, it's yours!

[Structo]

Here is a cool panarama shot from the rover Opportunity.

Hi Res

Of course this is all probably fake just like the lunar missions....

[img:5788:2000]http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA15689.jpg[/img]

[xtian]

Yes! This is nerd-olympics GOLD!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html

[NickC]

Sure if you can get to it, it's yours!

Okay, I hereby claim it! I'm offering a 20% commission to any salvage crew that fetches it for me.

[Jana]

I stayed up last night and watched it. Totally awesome.

I was thinking about the "spare parts" too--the heat shield, etc. I figure the heat shield would make a good roof for an igloo for some martians.

It would have been really cool if the first picture sent back was of an abandoned '57 Chevy.

[NickC]

............... It would have been really cool if the first picture sent back was of an abandoned '57 Chevy.

Yes! With a very-much-alive Elvis behind the wheel!

[Reeltarded]

They landed just at 2900m off the mark with 5kg less propellant than expected. Not bad over a 35m mile trip.

I have some unreleased tiff images that are too big to post. They landed in a bad neighborhood. The wheels are all missing.

[B]

They landed in a bad neighborhood. The wheels are all missing.

Hahaha! Curiosity up on blocks is a hilarious mental image!

And of course the first thing we do when we get there is spin a few quick brodies. Americans.

[Aurora]

1st image released!

[George61]

I'm a toolmaker at Die-Tech, a metal stamping plant in York Haven, PA.
When I got to work today, at 3PM, there were two local TV news teams here so I asked 'what's up?' Apparently some of the terminals that we made are in Curiosty. I bought a quarter of an ounce to celebrate.

Stamp on,
George

[Structo]

You rock George!

Jokes aside, how in the hell do you fly a robotic rocket 154 million miles and not miss the turn off for Mars?

I was trying to look that up, I guess they adjust it as it flies by tracking it with radio waves.

One guy said it was like threading a needle from 15 feet away.

[Reeltarded]

The last steering was 35m miles out. Imagine that.. I mean try to imagine that. lol

[tribi9]

I bought a quater of an ounce to celebrate.

Stamp on,
George

That's a lot of weed!!