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JPL releases 20000 Mars Images
Barbarian writes "The Jet Propulsion Lab has released 20000 new unprocessed Mars image to the public (both processed and unprocessed images may be found at the link). You can also read the press release. The importance of this is that previously images were not released in this quantity or without pre-processing and captioning. Stories also available online: MSNBC, Associated Press.
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The images can be viewed in NASA PDS format...
/. story (once it's not /.'ed...), there's three main choices for the images...the one on the right is the new stuff that was released.
Viewers and tools are here:
http://www-pdsimage.jpl.nasa.gov/PDS/
By the way, when you go to that page linked in the
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You damn Earthling internet pirates!
The Cydonian Face is a copyrighted work of artistic expression protected by the DMCA. If tens of millions of miles of distance isn't access control, I don't know what is! Pirate websites like this which distribute images created by NASA hardware hackers with 'homemade' imagers and transmitters are taking food out of the mouths of starving artists like Lars "It even rhymes with Mars, how dumb can these humans be" Ulrich of Metallica -- not to mention the management and staff of the MPAA (Martian Protected Art Association) and RIAA (Rich Influential Alien Agents)
Use licenses are available under the terms of the JPL (Jammed Pubic License) for noncommercial private use only. Retransmission or distribution of these images and videos, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of Martian League Baseball, is expressly prohibited.
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If you can go to bed, knowing you did a valuable thing today, you're very lucky. If you can't... it's not bedtime
As was suspected by most scientists, the face is just a photographic artifact, due to lighting conditions, low resolution and extensive image processing of the original Viking picture, similar in nature to the famous, but non-existant "Martian Canals".
It's a pity De Palma didn't seem to bother to read this before creating lost oppurtunity that was "Mission to Mars"...
"Just once, I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets." -- The Brigadier, Dr. Who
Now the big question. Did the little Poor martians that have had their Monuments Photographed Realize that its better to tear it down and let Earthlings think Mars is Uninhabited so that Earthlings don't flock to Mars like the Locusts they are and Try to Make Contact. They Obviously don't like Earthlings so Im thinking we aren't gonna see the face again, and if they did like us.... the anal probes would stop.. hmmm... need more Preperation H..
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Every time I see these great announcements that the NASA again released pictures I think that this should be a normal thing. Wouldn't you say that the NASA's work is supposed to be for all the humans, or, at least, for all U.S. citizens (since they finance it)? If there is a big mass of interested people looking at this then they migth even find something new and exciting (life on mars?) that would have slipped through otherwise. Open Source for Space Exploration!
"It may be your sole purpose in life to serve as a warning to others."
What no Flash intro? No thumping, booty-shaking techno as we fly through the majestic canyons of Mars in full screen (but resizeable) glory? Now, I'm in awe of the amazing photograghs that JPL has posted in a suprisingly open-minded mood. But come on! This is the era of high bandwidth, graphically pleasing web-designs (emphasis on the design part). Now, I realize that they probably don't have the time, money, bandwidth ect. to make something that will please me, an ultra-jaded-slack-jawed-flash-bang-junkie. However, throw me a bone! Give me an interesting homepage at least.
I'm sorry. I really am... I don't mean to pick on JPL. They mean well. It's just so damn frustrating. These georgeous images that have been given to us by amazing technology are framed by a completely lack-luster page that detracts from them so much that it's almost painfull. I just wanted so much more. To be a geek and an artist, sigh...
Capitalism Served Fresh Daily
It is sad however that a private contractor like MSSS could control the release of this data in the first place. All scientific data from planetary missions should be immediately released on the Internet.
Distributed.net will use the remaining $2000 to pay for efforts toward its next project, a non-commercial system that will compete with geek news site Slashdot for control of a dangerous weapon that Slashdot owner Rob Malda is rumored to not only have invented and built, but have tested repeatedly on friendly webmasters. World Wide Web leaders have previously met to decide whether it is better for one group to entirely control the weapon or for there to be a balance of power between two or possibly more groups, but no conclusion was agreed upon. The United States, where both Slashdot and distributed.net are located, has not yet signed treaties banning all tests of the weapon.
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The shareholder is always right.
Also, if one is a Guest user of NASA facilities, one only has "rights" to the data for six months, after which it is available (unprocessed) to anyone who asks for it. Archives for different missions are available at different NASA sites.