Slashdot Mirror


How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars Mission To the Web

lgmac brings us a story about how NASA will bring information from the Phoenix Mars lander to the internet in the coming days. CIO Magazine speaks with JPL's chief knowledge architect and others about how they'll provide massive amounts of data from the lander to suit the needs of an audience ranging from professors to 8-year-olds. We've been discussing the Phoenix mission for quite a while now. The landing is on schedule for Sunday at roughly 5PM PDT. "'In previous missions, a system like this didn't exist and people were sharing images via external drives,' Bitter says. Some of the images are put up immediately and captioned, or sent to museum audiences, while others are made part of huge mosaic pictures that display the majesty of what the NASA spacecraft encounters, she says. In addition to the sheer volume of data that must be sifted through, challenges included the large, dispersed team, Holm says. 'The content management system has to be easy to use and agnostic,' she says, 'It's all about speed and accuracy of data.' Video on the Web represents one of the biggest changes for modern-day missions for the public, Holm says. 'There's a visceral response we get from people. They feel like they're really there.'"

60 comments

  1. I for one will have a tab open permanently by Finallyjoined!!! · · Score: 4, Interesting

    on the NASA page.

    This is fantastic stuff, pity this sort of technology (internet I mean) wasn't available in 1969. I was glued to the TV set then, I will be glued to t'internet now.

    --
    If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
    1. Re:I for one will have a tab open permanently by poopdeville · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Yes, the site is a great idea. Mankind is destined to visit the stars, and Mars is our second step. A manned mission to Mars has the potential to provide us with limitless knowledge about the origins of life, and can provide practical experience that can help make traffic to Mars routine.

      My only concern is that NASA won't be blocking foreign nations from visiting their site. I, for one, don't want my tax dollars paying for Mexicans to learn about Mars.

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    2. Re:I for one will have a tab open permanently by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      My only concern is that NASA won't be blocking foreign nations from visiting their site. I, for one, don't want my tax dollars paying for Mexicans to learn about Mars. That's fine, so long as they don't teach Martians about bigot like you.

      By the way, from who do you think you learned about tequila, hookers, and fajitas?
      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    3. Re:I for one will have a tab open permanently by poopdeville · · Score: 1

      I might suggest you look up "A Modest Proposal".

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    4. Re:I for one will have a tab open permanently by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      I might suggest you look up "A Modest Proposal". I've never seen that work, but wikipedia makes it sound interesting. I'm heading over to Project Gutenberg to see if it is there. Sometimes, as in your post, the irony is hard to spot. Sorry for the accusation.
      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    5. Re:I for one will have a tab open permanently by poopdeville · · Score: 1

      No problem. My intention was to parody the kind of person who wants to stop the spread of knowledge. Mexicans were an easy "target" for my "character", since they are already a hot topic, and people who complain about them discredit themselves in my mind.

      Here's a link to it: http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/modest.html

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
  2. This means one thing... by Plazmid · · Score: 0

    more Mars conspiracy theories by idiots interpreting the data!

    1. Re:This means one thing... by DaveM753 · · Score: 2, Funny

      more Mars conspiracy theories by idiots interpreting the data! You mean Mars doesn't need women?

    2. Re:This means one thing... by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      more Mars conspiracy theories by idiots interpreting the data!

      Nonsense!

    3. Re:This means one thing... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      You mean compared to NASA ignoring & hiding their own data ??

    4. Re:This means one thing... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      For those too lazy to order it :-), you can always watch the youtube Evidence The Case For NASA UFO version.

    5. Re:This means one thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This means one thing... Hmm, something... What, are you saying this means something?

      The third kind, is women?
  3. i remember the spirit landing by adpowers · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I remember watching Spirit land on Mars a few years ago. I streamed NASA TV over the internet and remember the anticipation of waiting for data and the excitement when the images finally began appearing on screen. It is a memory that is very fond to me and is still clear in my mind. Being too young to experience the moon landing, the Spirit landing and Columbia disaster are my strongest memories of the space program. Each represents the best and worst of the space exploration.

    I hope to be able to stream the Phoenix landing on Sunday.

    1. Re:i remember the spirit landing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      If the webcast is unavailable due to overwhelming demand (there's a lot of nerds out there...slashdotting sometimes even happens to NASA), you might try the local public access TV channel. The one here in Portland often picks up the NASA TV broadcast for major events like this, and they take it from the satellite broadcast, so NASA TV server bandwidth isn't a problem.

      If you're really hardcore, there's instructions on the NASA TV site for how to receive the digital satellite broadcast.

    2. Re:i remember the spirit landing by eln · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If you're really hardcore, there's instructions on the NASA TV site for how to receive the digital satellite broadcast. I can give you the instructions:

      Step 1: Get DirecTV
      Step 2: That is all.

      I know that's not what you meant, just thought I'd point out that NASA TV is on DirecTV, that's where I saw the Deep Impact comet impact happen. It was truly thrilling seeing it all unfold in real time.
    3. Re:i remember the spirit landing by barzok · · Score: 1

      I spent the entire day of Pathfinder's landing watching NASA TV and related channels. I was in complete awe every minute...and when the first images came down, that whole day of waiting was more than worth it.

    4. Re:i remember the spirit landing by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Of course, DirecTV is not legally available north of the border, and not surprisingly, NASA-TV is unavailable here also.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    5. Re:i remember the spirit landing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I stream the NASA TV Public feed and watch it from my Xbox using XBMC - my boys 6 and 8 have watched many of the lunches of the shuttles.

      --Would be real nice if Comcast would go back to what they had years ago and just run the NASA TV feed on one of the 500 channels they have - geesh!

    6. Re:i remember the spirit landing by ch-chuck · · Score: 1

      That's not hardcore - the true space geek will get it free. Scroll down to NASA, it says "F" (free) for "video encryption".

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  4. If NASA gets slashdotted... by 3waygeek · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Science Channel will have live coverage Sunday night between 7 & 9 PM ET.

  5. And it's about time: by Fluffeh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's about time NASA did some of this good old fashioned PR stuff. This sort of thing - just letting people get caught up in the awe of it all - is so much better than any other PR that they could possibly do.

    A company that showed me something that they did, that let me get swept away by the sheer audacity of it? That let me be instantly teleported to some other planet in our solar system through amazing photographs? That let me stand on the surface of another planet - even if only in my mind?

    Yeah, that's the sort of company that I can
    Open my checkbook for.
    Petition my local congressman/senator/governing body for.
    Happily teach my kids about.
    Generally go out of my way for.

    --
    Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
    1. Re:And it's about time: by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Informative

      But it's a bit hit and miss. Along with funding the creation of some good youtube videos, and some good web design, they're also blowing a whole bunch of cash on a Second Life presence.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
    2. Re:And it's about time: by CraftyJack · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Petition my local congressman/senator/governing body for. Please remember to do this. The many people that have brought Phoenix this far (fingers crossed) have been at it for quite some time. It takes many man-hours to do it right. If the funding isn't there, it can't happen.

      This concludes my Sally Struthers moment.
  6. Here's hoping... by actionbastard · · Score: 3, Interesting
    --
    Sig this!
    1. Re:Here's hoping... by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's all worked out. This time they're not using units.

      --
      http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  7. "How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars..." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...with a web cam.

  8. wow by benthurston27 · · Score: 1

    I can't imagine the computing power necessary to fake that amount of data. j/k i guess it will be like when they "faked" the moon landing with special effects that were way ahead of what was being seen in movies at the time.

    1. Re:wow by largesnike · · Score: 1

      Oh come on, they've been working on this for years. You don't actually think that seti@home was for looking for aliens do you? It's gonna look (adjusting my tin foil hat) great!

      --
      "Laugh while you can a-monkey boy!" - Dr Emilio Lizardo
    2. Re:wow by lgw · · Score: 1

      We all know now that the moon landings were filmed in a soundstage on Mars. This fake Mars landing will be easier, as they're filming it on the Moon.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  9. I'm feeling it by SEWilco · · Score: 4, Funny

    "... They feel like they're really there."

    Can't... breathe...

  10. World Wide Web by JuzzFunky · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I guess the term World Wide Web is now totally obsolete...
    Solar System Wide Web?

    --
    Unexpect the expected!
    1. Re:World Wide Web by Martian_Kyo · · Score: 1

      an interesting and a cute idea.
      Galaxy Wide Web might be a little catchier tho.
      Tho the whole www thing is dead. http://no-www.org/

      or maybe we should expend the meaning of the word 'world'.Just as it was expended during the exploration of this planet. Hence the 'new world', 'old world'.

      What is world? And don't pull wikipedia definitions on me. As I have stated the word 'world' has changed its meaning through time, or rather expended it. Maybe we should do it again?

    2. Re:World Wide Web by NCG_Mike · · Score: 2, Funny

      I wondered if it was possible to bounce an e-mail around until the domain, "mars.net" appeared and send their postmaster a greeting from the past... "All your base... oh forget it".

  11. Probably in tiny pieces by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let's hope that's unlike how they do the first part.

  12. Late Breaking News! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    > 'There's a visceral response we get from people. They feel like they're really there.'

    The Red Planet stands steadfast under the guidance of the Council of Elders.

    K'Breel, speaker for the most Illustrious Council of Elders, made the following comment:

    The ones from the third planet claim to be Masters! They claim to have sent their foulness on a Trip! The one the Monkeys call "Holm" speaks of 'visceral' experiences! Her species stands condemned by its own words!

    When a journalist suggested that the approaching contraption was merely an agglomeration of spare parts left over from an invasion craft of a design that had already been easily defeated, K'Breel immeditaely appropriated the quisling journalist's gelsac for use as a visual aid to illustrate that the concepts of 'visceral experience' and 'spare parts' were not mutually exclusive.

    (/we haven't forgotten you, TMM!)

  13. memories are funny things by WindBourne · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A few years ago, I described a situation to my parents. I vividly remember my mother being upset and my little sister being sick. It turned out that it was not just my sister being sicked, but my father was sitting on a runway in a b-47 waiting orders to head to USSR; It was cuban missle crisis. Another time, my father suddenly being called up, and I remember him strapping his 45 on (I had never seen him wear it before and was curious; all pilots did then to ensure that all members of the craft performed their task correctly if needed). He was apparently put on alert because Kennedy had just been assasinated. Since that time, I recall vividly the images on a BW tv of our first space walk (it was interesting to see him move around). I still recall Apollo 1 and the mode in our house at that time (We had just moved from Texas to Ill just a bit earlier). Likewise, apollo 11 and of course 13, challenger, etc.

    It is easy to have these memories. But what you need is to try and instill these in others who are younger than yourself. I have 2 children; 1 is 4 y.o. and the other is 19 m.o. (I enjoyed life too much early so started on a family very late). I have coated my kids room with mag paints and have the planets on the wall. In addition, I like to take my 4 yo out and show her the moon and then talk about where man landed on it. Why? Because it is important for each generation to make sure that the next generation understands why this is important. Even now, I see the despare that is in the 20-35 y.o. WRT human space flights. Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along. The reason is that at this time, we are the best tool. High maintence, but still the only flexable tool. Sadly, Nixon killed the space program and all the presidents since him have done very little. As much as I dislike W, he has the right idea in going back to the moon. Of course, it is griffin that is doing it mostly correct.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:memories are funny things by Ford+Prefect · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Even now, I see the despare that is in the 20-35 y.o. WRT human space flights. Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along. The reason is that at this time, we are the best tool. High maintence, but still the only flexable tool.

      I'm 28. On my shelves are books like Full Moon, a NASA atlas of the solar system, a biography of Sergei Korolev... I'm a bit of a space nut in my spare time (and did the astrophysics degree to prove it).

      Human spaceflight is fascinating, but right now it's utterly useless for exploring our own solar system, let alone further afield. There's just way too much sodding plumbing you have to take along too. A radiation-hardened processor controlling a space probe is one thing, but the necessary life support mechanisms, living area, exercise machines, lavatory facilities, windows to look out of, paper underpants, DVD players, Tang, freeze-dried noodles and the machinery necessary to reprocess piss and shit into something more palatable... Humans just aren't designed for spaceflight.

      If most of the non-fuel mass of your spacecraft is solely there to stop the human passengers from coughing their guts into hard vacuum, you may be doing something wrong. A far smaller craft which doesn't care less about the one-way nature of its mission, laden with scientific instrumentation designed solely to learn about its destination - that's more like it. And, compared with the human alternative, they're both cheap and disposable - so if something does go wrong, launch another one...

      I'd love for humans to walk on the surface of Mars within my lifetime. But I also accept that it would just be another, magnificent white elephant along the lines of the original Apollo missions to the moon - no chance of living off the land when you're so utterly dependent on the exact hardware that took you there. We're more likely to progress long-term by investing in genuinely novel solutions to problems, even if they remain unmanned for the foreseeable future - and the wealth of knowledge about our solar system that we'll have gained from such robotic space probes will be invaluable when we do finally get round to those real attempts at colonisation...
      --
      Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
    2. Re:memories are funny things by Cally · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along. Look, if you can't accept that humans will go extinct one day, here's a whisky and perspective. Life is short, get used to it. I can't understand how so many intelligent people really think the future of humanity is something like a bad 60s movie with everyone living in domes on the moon. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. How is that so hard to understand? A popular way to look at this is to ask: why isn't the future of humanity living in the middle of the Gobi desert?: It's millions of times easier to get there and to live there, and there's a lot more there that's useful to humans than there is on the kmoon (setting aside pure knowledge for the sake of knowing - which is a different argument altogether.) Whenever I express this opinion here on /. I'm -1 troll'd in seconds flat, so mods - before you mod me down - take the time to tell me WHY? What do you know about physics that I don't? Note, resorting to metaphysical arguments about Destiny won't get you anywhere. Real physics (and biology, psychology, social psychology etc) trumps metaphysics every time, I'm afraid.

      As much as I dislike W, he has the right idea in going back to the moon. Even if you agree with the goal, which I don't, there's not much point saying "go back to the moon!" when you don't provide the neccessary funding. Hence the gutting on the unmanned Mars program (did you know NASA will be missing two out of three of the next bi-annual Mars launch slots, because the MSL (Mars Science Lab) mega-rover has spent all the money?)
      --
      "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
    3. Re:memories are funny things by ejecta · · Score: 1

      Living in a desert isn't that difficult as long as you start with a shelter of some form and some living plant material you can use the plant material to condense water & water more plant material to ramp up production to support a small community (that's if you can't drop a bore down).

      However at the end of the day, most people don't want to live in a desert because its 'boring', most people don't want to merely survive, they want whizz bang gadgets & the latest entertainment machines.

      I myself would much before to buy a few hundred acres of wilderness and start my own self-sustained commune.

      --
      Two Parts Swash, One Part Buckle
    4. Re:memories are funny things by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      We're more likely to progress long-term by investing in genuinely novel solutions to problems, even if they remain unmanned for the foreseeable future - and the wealth of knowledge about our solar system that we'll have gained from such robotic space probes will be invaluable when we do finally get round to those real attempts at colonisation... Those novel situations to problems will not arise without the associated problems. Thus, solving the problems of human spaceflight will lead to solutions that will work here on earth. Just think about the starving villagers in Myanmar, drowning in their own feces with their homes under standing water. Now imagine a scenario where the US could send over machines that convert the shit to food. A manned Mars mission would prioritize the development of such a machine. And it's not as far fetched as it sounds. Ask any lab rat at your university how much nutrients remain in mammal feces.
      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    5. Re:memories are funny things by waveclaw · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Really if you are a planning on being a space-fairing species a lot of this is junk weight.

      Human spaceflight is fascinating, but right now it's utterly useless for exploring our own solar system, let alone further afield. There's just way too much sodding plumbing you have to take along too.


      And most that plumbing is to support a GI and musculature for surviving on the Savanah and the reproductive system to make more of the same.

      A radiation-hardened processor controlling a space probe is one thing, but the necessary life support mechanisms, living area, exercise machines, lavatory facilities, windows to look out of, paper underpants, DVD players, Tang, freeze-dried noodles and the machinery necessary to reprocess piss and shit into something more palatable... Humans just aren't designed for spaceflight.


      Then redesign them?

      Seriously, if you are already past your reproductive years you're looking forward to increased medical needs to support aging heart, bone and other organs. Why not ditch it all for a brain in a box? Barring stroke or brain cancer, you in your new shiny and easily repaired robot body (No warranty expressed or implied) could be doing geology in the asteroid belt, homesteading the Ice of Europa or taking in a few rounds of vacuum golf on the moon.

      I am not the first to mention this.

      And for the Retalians out there, just sacrifice a neuron or two to grow you a brainless clone to house your transplantable crainium if you ever feel the need to press the flesh in person again.
      --

      "You cannot have a General Will unless you have shared experiences. You cannot be fair to people you don't know."
  14. John Favreau Should Release a Trailer ;) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    John Favreau Should Release a Trailer ;)

    1. Re:John Favreau Should Release a Trailer ;) by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      John Favreau Should Release a Trailer ;) Yes, there is quite a bit of impressive technology in today's trailers.
      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  15. Twitter by Rebelgecko · · Score: 1

    The Phoenix mission also has a page on Twitter, which isn't something one normally expects for a spacecraft.

    --
    CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
    1. Re:Twitter by coastwalker · · Score: 1

      So it is, gives lots of status updates and factoids - last one so far..
      "After 90 days, when I freeze, that will be end of mission. But if I wake up again (when the sun returns to arctic circle) I will phone home."

      How anthropomorphic and cute can you get!

      Nasa TV just fired up, this is way better than traditional tv, you feel much more engaged with the thing following it in real time. Lots of luck to Phoenix, theres a lot of people with their fingers crossed (thumbs held in Sweden).

      --
      Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
  16. Too late by tigersha · · Score: 1

    I already registered www.another-crater-on-mars.com

    --
    The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
  17. They Don't Run IP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Actually they don't run IP from the spacecraft as generally bandwidth is scarce and IP is for this purpose atleast bandwidth wasteful. But I beleive they are looking into it. but not using traditional TCP/IP through.

    -AC

    1. Re:They Don't Run IP by coastwalker · · Score: 1

      How do you run error correction over a link with a 15minute latency each way? Traditional IP is not going to be at all efficient. Does anyone know what the data transmission protocols are, the solution must be interesting.

      --
      Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
  18. The moon, mars? Keep them by Darkman,+Walkin+Dude · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Seriously, whatever resources we can find on the moon or mars are not worth the effort. The moon is a vacuum complete with razor sharp dust that is guaranteed to be shredding any machinery up there for the next forever, and microgravity that will turn your bones to jelly. Mars is a frozen wasteland with more jellifying low gravity, which is a full stop dead end for human colonisation with no easy answer.

    We need to focus not on manned missions to these planets but on automated missions to asteroids and space platforms, where we can completely control the environment and simulate earthlike gravity. By harnessing the gargantuan resources just floating around out there, we can turn earth into a true paradise.

  19. NASA on livejournal by dodecalogue · · Score: 2, Funny

    NASA rover updates in the form of teen-girl livejournals. Opportunity's latest update is over a year ago, spiritrover's is even older, unfortunately.

    http://opportunitygrrl.livejournal.com/ http://spiritrover.livejournal.com/

  20. go back into your troll hole by peter303 · · Score: 1

    So some loser is going to keep themselves ignorant, then whine about it, because of some past slight. Get lost.

  21. Denver Science Museum landing party by peter303 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Another activity is that several institutions around the world will have "landing parties" with live NASA TV feeds. Denver Science museum is one of them. They will fill two auditoriums and their IMAX with spectators for the @4PM landing and @8PM first picture feed. Plus they will have various planetary sciences and construction engineers (probe built in Denver area) fill in with lectures. They are even selling dinner for the hard-care who may stay the full six hours. Its sold out. They had successful parties for the past three Mars probe arrivals.

    I debating whether to be a real nerd and "dress up" for the occasion. I have something that look like the attennae in "My Favorite Martian" or the Saturday morning cartoons ....

  22. Loosing Site of History by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nothing like loosing site of history.

    Oh well, might as well forget the glory days of the Apollo Missions, where Apollo 13 gripped the world as events unfolded in real time. Nope that needs to be encrypted and we need to be able to pull the pug in case we have a "FIRE EVENT" (as defined by the Apollo Missions) because the public isn't ready. Heck we don't even need to send Real Men any where but low earth orbit, we can just send a little probe (because its safe) and throw a big landing party if don't crash. I am quite sure Jack Kennedy's vision in the 60's wasn't that small, but what the hell this is the New Millennium... Since you can't accept a bench mark that was set in history at the highest standards, feel free to think as small as you want. It suites you.

  23. If It Lands by s31523 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    NASA will bring information from the Phoenix Mars lander to the internet in the coming days.
    That is, if the thing survives the landing. NASA even admits the probability of success is low. WTF?

    Lets send a 400 million dollar space craft to a planet that will in all likelyhood crash into it. THEN, if it does make it, we will most likely lose it to the harsh polar winter that will take place in the upcoming months.

    Wow, that is great.
  24. Torrents? by VeNoM0619 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    CIO Magazine speaks with JPL's chief knowledge architect and others about how they'll provide massive amounts of data from the lander to suit the needs of an audience ranging from professors to 8-year-old So... torrents? I never understood why scientific corporations where they want to give out the data (and everyone eagerly wants it) but "don't have the bandwidth" never use torrents. You set the upload rate and make it up to the people who claim to eagerly want it to patiently wait for each other to distribute it for you. Plus this will help lessen the claims on torrents being illegal...
    --
    Disclaimer: I am not god.
    We may not be created equal
    But we can be treated equal.
  25. Watch The Landing On The Big Screen by Thanus · · Score: 1

    For anyone near Charleston, WV on Sunday, May 25th the Clay Center will be displaying streaming video from the Green Bank radio telescope that NASA is using to watch the landing. This event is free, open to the public and doors open at 6:30 pm.

    --
    8D CB F5 32 BE 2C 49 E9 B5 4A 75 C8 8A 59 70. It's mine, all mine!
  26. Few stereo images available by WindShadow · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry to see that only a few stereo images are available so far, particularly since many of the images released are from the right stereo camera, and there's probably a left image as well. If you think life coverage is like being there, viewing a stereo image is really like being there! It's a whole other sensation.