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Mars Rovers On Final Approach

Posted by timothy on from the watch-for-m&m-helices dept.

leapis writes "In the wake of the possible loss of the Beagle 2 Mars probe, let us not forget that the Mars Rovers are scheduled for arrival in orbit this weekend. As noted in this article at Space.com, the fourth and final course correction has been made, and Spirit, the first of two spacecraft, will touch down around 22:34 on 3 Jan 2004. More information and a countdown to the landing can be found here."

29 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. I propose... by Scoria · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... that, instead of quarreling about the legitimacy of robotic space exploration, we dedicate this thread to the inevitable development of a Mars probe drinking game!

    Gallons, not liters, please...

    --
    Do you like German cars?
  2. What gives us the right? by scsirob · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just wondering... Suppose there *is* life on Mars, what gives us the right to drop all sorts of space junk on their planet? Let's face it, if alien probes were to crash on Earth, everyone would be up in arms...

    --
    To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
    1. Re:What gives us the right? by sopuli · · Score: 5, Funny
      Just wondering... Suppose there *is* life on Mars, what gives us the right to drop all sorts of space junk on their planet?

      We'll just say they have weapons of mass destruction.

    2. Re:What gives us the right? by Deraj+DeZine · · Score: 4, Funny

      I would have personally brought up the whole Roswell incident as evidence of just how crazy people get over crashed alien craft.

      I mean, the whole incident was probably just some teenage alien coming back from one of those underage Martian drinking parties you hear about so much and crashing his space ship. I never really saw the point in destroying the poor alien's reputation over that one little mistake. I mean, we've had him locked away in the Area 51 supermax prison for how long? It's ridiculous.

      Perhaps the Martians are just holding Beagle 2 until we return that poor kid? It's about time those aliens stood up for their rights.

      --
      True story.
    3. Re:What gives us the right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Uh...In case you haven't noticed the martians haven't exactly kept it up over the years. Face it, those Martians are slobs.

    4. Re:What gives us the right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Up in arms? People would be fighting over the debris and hawking it on eBay. We'd line up by the thousands just to peer into the craters and buy the zany "Probe This" t-shirts. If there were cameras attached to them, unruly mobs would jostle to flash gang signs, middle fingers, tits and various religious icons in thier field of view. Roswell, New Mexico has made an industry out of a crashed alien craft and theirs is only make-believe.

    5. Re:What gives us the right? by zr · · Score: 1, Funny

      habit?

    6. Re:What gives us the right? by Detritus · · Score: 1, Funny
      Just wondering... Suppose there *is* life on Mars, what gives us the right to drop all sorts of space junk on their planet? Let's face it, if alien probes were to crash on Earth, everyone would be up in arms...

      We have flags. Hey, it worked for the Europeans in the New World.

      --
      Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  3. I for one.. by Channard · · Score: 4, Funny

    .. am deeply disappointed by the lack of dog puns.. 'Beagle 2 fails to bark'... 'Down, Rover'.. 'Beagle 2 Space Probe has Ruff Landing'.. so much potential unfulfilled.

    1. Re:I for one.. by wildsurf · · Score: 2, Funny

      1. Beagle Scratched
      2. Dog Whistle Inaudible
      3. No Word from Deep Space K-Nine
      4. After Two Dog Days and Three Dog Nights: Dog Gone?
      5. Crater possibility: Did Dog Land in Reservoir?
      6. Mars, 15; Puppy, Love.

      --
      Weeks of coding saves hours of planning.
    2. Re:I for one.. by deathcow · · Score: 1, Funny

      > .. am deeply disappointed by the lack of dog puns.. 'Beagle 2 fails to bark'...
      > 'Down, Rover'.. 'Beagle 2 Space Probe has Ruff Landing'.. so much potential unfulfilled

      British scientists announce "That dog wont hunt!"

  4. In Other News... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Space Junk is reaching alarming levels. The UN has established a special committee to investiagte the problem and to issue littering fines where appropiate.

  5. We know darn well martians don't like probes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yet we continue dumping cute little robots on their ground.
    How long do you think it will take for this one to be found and death-rayed, just like the rest?

    Earthlings go home!

    1. Re:We know darn well martians don't like probes by AmericanKleptocracy · · Score: 0, Funny

      How is it exactly that you know Martians don't like probes?

  6. And in other news.... by TheDarkener · · Score: 1, Funny

    Little green men on a far-away planet eat their first interplanetary delicacy - "Beagles & Rovers".

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  7. But... by Channard · · Score: 2, Funny
    We'll just say they have weapons of mass destruction.

    Yep, but we have better weapons of mass destruction *sniffles*. Hmm.. I can feel a cold coming on.

  8. Brain flip... by Channard · · Score: 1, Funny

    Anyone else read that as 'Selling Steven Hawking on E-Bay'? 'Genius for sale, good cond, comes with Phd, batteries not included.'

  9. Names by EuroChild · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now see, I can tell simply by the names of these probes that they will fail. By giving them these "uplifting" or "inspirational" (eg: spirit) names they are jinxing themselves. Therefore I suggest that the next probes are named things like: "dismal faliure" or "flaming wreck"...

    --
    Does this make my brain look big?
  10. When Rover lands by maroberts · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe it could sidle up to Beagle 2 and give it a push out of whatever ditch it has managed to land in!

    Does Rover carry any jump leads?

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

    1. Re:When Rover lands by Craig3010 · · Score: 0, Funny

      "Damnit! I'm a space probe, not a mechanic!"

  11. One of them's BOUND to make it! by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Martians are going to run out of missiles sooner or later!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:One of them's BOUND to make it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah, they sky must look like a big game of Missile Command to them right now.

      "Whew, we took that sucka down. Omigod! Here comes another one shaped like a UFO! Fire!...Got it. Oh no! Two MORE!!!"

      If four probes entered the Earth atmosphere in quick succession, we'd be freakin'.

  12. Yeah... by dupper · · Score: 1, Funny
    Have at you, Red Planet! *crash* Take that! *crash* And that! *crash* And THAT! *crash*

    That'll learn 'em to be all, fourth planet from the sun, and stuff.

  13. Mars Vehicles by Knunov · · Score: 0, Funny

    I was reading this article, then clicked a few links to other articles, then spent a good hour or so looking at actual photos and artist renditions of the landing vehicles, successful, unsuccessful, and those en route.

    You know what ALL of them are missing?

    BLING-BLING

    If our governments are spending billions on these phat rides, shouldn't they at least throw a set of 20" Enkeis w/ low profile Pirelli P-Zeros on 'em? Then drop those bitches 'til they scrapin' the Martian surface, makin' dem green hoes flock. Shit man, ain't nothing even chromed up on 'em.

    But for the billions spent, what we got on the detailin' side? Nothin'. Not even a wax job and a pair of fuzzy fuckin' dice.

    Knunov

    --
    Why do users with IDs under 100,000 or over 700,000 usually have the most worthwhile comments?
  14. Obvious by ByteSlicer · · Score: 2, Funny

    They found a big crater right in the middle where Beagle 2 was supposed to land...
    Maybe the parachute just didn't open?

  15. Well they could, but.... by FatSean · · Score: 1, Funny

    Then the scientists would have to go to work without breakfast and wear old, ill-fiting clothing because all the budget was spent on rims and designer space suits.

    --
    Blar.
  16. Re:Question by MyHair · · Score: 3, Funny

    I agree, but it's somewhat disturbing that the person's name is "Segfault". :-)

  17. Re:It's morning in the US by weeboo0104 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Old man: WHAT...is the velocity of an unladen Mars probe?

    Arthur: What do you mean? American or European?

    Old man: Huh? I don't know...AAAGGHGGHHH (falls into a Mars crater)

    --
    It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
  18. Updating the software during the trip to Mars by ssassen · · Score: 2, Funny

    > Logging on to Beagle2 > Connection openend at 33Kbps > Login: beagle > Password: ... >Wrong password! > Password: ... > Wrong password! > Password: ... > Wrong password, please remove jumper 121 to reset password, system halted