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NASA Scientists Get Custom 24h39m-per-day Watches
blair1q writes "In order to more easily keep solar time on Mars, (or maybe just as a lark) JPL has ordered specially-modified mechanical watches for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?"
Being able to project the orbit of a decaying planet around a binary Pulsar-White Dwarf pair is not the same as writing a C++ program in an embedded enviroment. Albeit, I'm sure proficiency among the scientists in the programming languages are far higher than that of the general public, but it must be far simpler to just buy a mechanical watch that is nearly guaranteed to be flawless by nature, or work for days on making a bug free watch that is far more prone to failure.
And why did you staple the trout to the RAM?
"One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?"
because mechanical watches are much cooler and act as a souvenir of the project. next, why don't you go ask astronauts to trade in their mission patches for a linux box with the logo as the desktop background. don't expect to be popular with them.
Why must everything on Slashdot be Linux-based?! If they were going to make a watch on a different time system to normal then wouldnt it make more sense to just build a slightly different watch? Analogue you just add a few more teeth to the gears and digital shouldn't be too hard to alter. Putting Linux on a watch is just silly.
--Muzz
it is a difficult feat of engineering. Because a mechanical watch is a combination of skill, craftmanship and beauty. Because someone said it couldn't be done. Because it is a very geeky thing to do.
Some of the mechanical watches with complications, like a perpetual calendar (keeps track of day, date and even leap year so you never have to reset the date) that has a wheel that revolves once every four years, are truly engineering marvels. Then there are tourbillons, repeaters, etc...all great feats of skill. I would buy one of these watches just for the skill involved in designing and testing it.
I would think slashdotters would understand doing something fairly "out there" just for the sake of doing it. And these are very useful. Granted useful for a small number of users, but useful nonetheless.
Now, how about a Beowulf cluster of Timex Sinclairs?
The scientists are going for a Mars-centric time with this. If they had some standard space time, they'd still have to do conversions from that time to match the rotation of Mars. In other words, it's a lot easier to be able to say "We will start operations at 0800 hours Mars time every Mars day" and have the scientists check their watch then to constantly think about time conversions..."Today, you need to show up at 1600, tomorrow at 1640, etc"
Another word on standardization: what would you standardize it on? This is a genuine question, as I can't immediately think of a standard we could use that wouldn't be just as arbitrary as using UTC as the space standard.
"... One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?"
Because in 10 years, a PalmOS watch is just a clucky, very outdated piece of plastic, while these will be collectable, a nice reminder for the team members who took part, and, well, basically cool. I say 'well done' since this was obviously oganised by a couple of the guys in their spare time.
Since these are eventually going to be sold to the public I'd hope the team all get their's engraved and/or made unique in some way.
You might wonder, but after helping several aerospace engineering students (AKA rocket scientists) through their ONE Java course, I certainly don't.
Remember, it's rocket science, not programming! I, for one, can tell the difference between source code and rocket fuel. Past that, I don't know much about rocket fuel. On that note, I doubt most rocket scientists know much about programming.
Dark Nexus
"Sanity is calming, but madness is more interesting."
Just because you don't work in a company with deep pockets that doesn't give you the right to criticize them.
Are you worried that the money they used came form the taxes, so what, most people cheat on their tax returns applications, is a win-win situation, geeks get cool gadgets to show off at conventions you get your rebate later this year.
Even Steven.
I think the original joke was intended to sound like a cheap (and therefore inaccurate-for-earth) knockoff of Rolex watches.
And yes, the joke is a lot less funy when it has to be explained.
-- "This world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel."
Here is another link for a proposed Mars Calendar:
http://mars.complete-isp.com/time/zubrin.html
NASA has an Applet showing the current time on Mars.
Offtopic - NASA is really embracing Java lately. At least parts of the control and visualising software for the current mission uses Java, including Java 3D. Java not ready for user interfaces eh?
They also certainly seem to be considering Java and Linux for future missions and have built a concept vehicle using it. The SD times article is very preachy, and I'm sure people sceptical of Java can argue over many of the points, but it is interesting still.
Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die
Useless to the public, yes. To the NASA people working with Mars, very useful.
Also, what does being a rocket scientist have to do with programming or Linux? I know plenty of "rocket scientists", engineers, and physicists who are complete dipshits when it comes to computers. They may understand chemistry and physics far beyond any of us could ever hope, but if they have problems with Eudora or can't get some web page to display they come running back to the IT guys who dropped out of college.
One wonders why you think ROCKET SCIENTISTS, dealing with something over 40 MILLION MILES AWAY, are also programmers and can just simply hack something together?
One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?
Maybe it's because they've got better things to do with their time?
One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?
Because that would be pointless?
All they had to do was change a few gear ratios instead of actually figuring out how to use linux, or getting an SDK for PalmOS, then actually writing the program and hope there's no bugs in it.
They're rocket scientists... not script kiddies who lavish in anything that is related to linux. (Go ahead, call me a troll... you know it's true)
The real question should be why they even needed to do it. It's not like knowing the time on mars is a huge deal.
Um, we had to pay for these watches out of our own pocket. We even have to pay for our embroidered shirts with the mission name on them! Its not our tax $$.
--I wouldn't buy one, but understand the reasons for having them made rather than doing what the article poster suggested: ("One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?")
.2 release for the general public.
o These are collectible items available only to NASA Mars project members (for now)
o The creation of these watches took a lot of skull-sweat on the manufacturer's part and is a great accomplishment for him
o It's a team-building device
o It's a Neat Hack(TM) - RTFA.
--That said, I wonder how these watches will hold up over time (pun intended.) IANAWatch Expert but somehow I doubt the length of a Martian second is the same as ours. A more accurate way of keeping time IMHO would be to keep the length of the second the same, and add 39 minutes worth per 24h: an "extended" 12h +19:30m watch face if you like, maybe with a colored "pie slice" for the extra time period - instead of losing seconds. FTA: ( "Past the glass cases of what looks like an ordinary jewelry store is a workshop where watches are losing 39 minutes a day." )
--But like I said, *I* don't have the skill to do this in the 1st place, and maybe he will do a rev
.
== WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't...
Because they are literal rocket scientists, if it is not a rocket (or space probe), they don't know what to do with it. Metaphorical rocket scientists are much more adaptable in that they can also deal with assorted flying machines and other fun widgets. Neither group is good at computer programming unless it is for data processing or paycheck enhancement purposes (see sig that I promise was there before I saw the article).
And a non-24hr watch has that 'ooh, shiny' thing going for it.
One wonders why these literal rocket scientists didn't just get a software programmable Linux or PalmOS based wrist-computer and hack together a Mars-time display application into it?"
Because they're keepsakes. Besides, mechanical watches are durable. When the hero sets the bomb that collapses the mouth of the only cave that leads to the underworld in which the Martians are preparing their invasion force, you can be damned sure that he'll be glad he's got a watch that survived all those pulse weapons and electric torture lassos and whatnot, so that he's quite sure he's got three seconds to blast off before the whole planet goes Kaboom!.
Or whatever.
More importantly, they're collectables. All the astronauts are given hardware that they get to take home after the mission as a keepsake. I mean, if these guys are going to make the only form of travel more dangerous than ValuJet for like three months each way without peanuts solely for the sake of our curiosity, then we can god damned well buy them a watch.
StoneCypher is Full of BS
There is much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.