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NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Lifts Off

Posted by michael on from the lawn-dart dept.

Joost Schuur writes "At 11:18 PM EDT on Monday, Opportunity, the second of 2 NASA Mars Exploration Rovers took off aboard a Boeing Delta 2 Heavy rocket after several delays and begun its 305 million mile trip to the Red Planet, where it will join its sister vehicle Spirit, which launched June 10th. Spirit and Opportunity will land on opposite sides of Mars, travelling up to 40 meters a day, and use a series of instruments to search for water, including the Rock Abrasion Tool, which will grind into rocks to give scientists a peak inside. Things are going to get crowded next January in orbit, as both NASA missions join the European Mars Express mission also launched this month and the Japanese Nozomi probe, which would finally complete its troublesome 5 year journey. Those stuck on Earth can take advantage of the closest Mars opposition in 60,000 years and watch with a telescope, or follow the images provided by the International MarsWatch 2003 group."

9 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. My mouth tastes like band-aids... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Linux is for faggots and the English, but I repeat myself...

  2. GNAA Logo contest! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    GNAA is looking for talented ASCII artists to provide a quality GNAA logo which can be used in all official GNAA posts on slashdot.

    For more information about the logo contest and how to become a GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) member, please visit the official irc channel #GNAA on efnet.

    The Management

  3. I hope... by ebf · · Score: -1, Troll

    I hope it doesn't lose its Opportunity!
    haha... I'm sooo funny.

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    -- Eduardo B. Fonseca
  4. /. wants my penis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    cmdrtaco wants my penis!

    am i a troll, offtopic, or just a cunt?

  5. Something fishy?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    When countries other than the US struggle to even do GPS and nuclear research independently, why and how is it that space missions are suddenly the in-thing? Could it be that the fruits of research and insights already gained aren't shared with the world community? Could it be that the rest of the world does not trust the US and information emanating from it's space research?

    We've made hell of this planet, refusing to share information and killing fellow creatures - why can't we co-operate and work together, atleast while exploring new planets? Do we need to create another Earth-like hell out there?

  6. Wow. by bulletproof+troll · · Score: -1, Troll

    Let's hope NASA doesn't royally fuck up again. Maybe this time it'll just be our tax dollars lost again.

  7. badum-cha! by the+uNF+cola · · Score: -1, Troll

    40 meters a day

    Wow.. it'll take a while to get there. /rimshot

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    --
    "I'm not bright. Big words confuse me. But Wanda loves me and that should be enough for you." - Cosmo

  8. Atlantis disaster? by CausticPuppy · · Score: -1, Troll

    Are you talking about those pesky kids that accidentally got launched into orbit by an annoying, gay robot during their visit to Space Camp?

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    -CausticPuppy "Of all the people I know, you're certainly one of them." -Somebody I don't know
  9. What's the big news here? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    That NASA managed to launch a rocket without blowing it up? Or that it managed not to kill 7 people?