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Boeing Delta 2 Sends First of Pair of RoversTo Mars
brandido writes "Space.com is
reporting that NASA has successfully launched the first of its pair of new rovers, recently named Spirit, on its trek to Mars. In addition, the article reports that "Spirit separated from the Delta 2's upper stage having already achieved Earth escape velocity." Looks like we are on our way, boys and girls."
Just a little tidbit about the two panoramic cameras on board. The CCDs for the cameras are made by DALSA. For their news release regarding their Mars Exploration Rover involvements see: http://www.dalsa.com/news/news.asp?itemID=100
Yep. After absorbing Rockwell and McDonnell-Douglas a few years ago, they're the USA's biggest (and damned near only) aero-space company. They've got 4 main categories of expendable launch vehicle: Delta II, III and IV and the relatively new SEA.
They're all over the map, geographically and product-wise. One of they're newest ventures is SeaLaunch, a joint, international deal to launch commercial geo-sync satellites from sea near the equator, saving fuel/increasing payload by taking the shortest route to orbit.
Hey they've even got a job opening for an F18 fighter pilot... in Kuwait.
Spaceflightnow.com has coverage, too. I like their coverage better than Space.com. They give more details, the page is easier to read, and have no pop-up ads.
Martian Soil
January 2004 is heating up to be one hell of a month.
Complexity and Bandwidth.
The science attainable with their 1:1 CCD is just as valid as that attainable with the panoramic CCD.
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --