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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."
urm.
i first read this and thought boeing and delta airlines had teamed up
to back this opreation, but it's got NASA's name on it.
no mention of boeing's involvement in the space.com article;
what's up? (ignore pun)
Use my userscript to add story images to Slashdot. There's no going back.
About an hour before the scheduled launch, there was an announcement on the radio. I set an alarm in my Visor.
:)
The alarm went off and I went outside. Like any launch, several people had gathered around the parking lot to view the event. My alarm was a few minutes early; can't set an alarm for 1:58 PM
Rocket appeared in the north and leaving a white pillar of smoke behind its brilliant yellow flame. Rising much faster than a shuttle, it arced gracefully to the east and out over the ocean. It took about two minutes before the solid rockets burt out and it became invisible in the afternoon sky.
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
This story is also discussed on CNN.com Science & Space with a more interesting title: Eight-eyed robot blasts off for Mars. Basically covers the same information, but mentions a few more details about the probe: "A NASA robot packed with eight cameras, geology instruments and super-rugged wheels roared into space on Tuesday," It also refers to the rovers as "druids" â" is this a Star Wars reference or what? Finally, it mentions the fact that, according to Nagin Cox of JPL "Mars is closer to the Earth than it has been in 73,000 years. "
First Falcon-1 to orbit, then Falcon-9. Then I can die a happy man.
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.
Personal I thought that the public has already lost its confidence in NASA. If you want NASA to continue what needs to be done is get rid of everyone one in charge of NASA and get a bunch of ppl straight out of University who haven't been told that they can't do it. Then watch them do it.
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. --