Slashdot Mirror
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."
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
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.
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.