THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 06:08:16 PM

Title: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 06:08:16 PM

How can you not love these little troopers. They build em for 3 month missions and they run for 4 years going on 5. Tuff bastards? Seems so.

(http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/TECH/080520/AP-PHOENIX-LANDER.gif)(http://www.foxnews.com/images/299501/0_61_mars_phoenix_touchdown.jpg)

The Phoenix lander is touching down on Sunday. Unlike the Rovers it is using the older method of landing with thrusters. Its been done a lot so its pretty safe. Phoenix will be of course sampling and analyzing the polar surface of MARS where you go to get more CANDY BARS. Unfortunately since its a lander and not a rover, its 6 month mission will no doubt be its only real mission. It has instruments for climate monitoring, but once it does its thing the one location, thats pretty much it.

(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/mars-rover-airbag.jpg)(http://athena.cornell.edu/images/rovers/rover_sundial.jpg)

Both Rovers were spared from the HUGE NASA budget cuts and will continue to do what they do best. Unfortunately Opportunity is having some weird issue with one of its arms, so its starting to show its age :(

(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/mars-odyssey-instruments.jpg)

And there's always the Mars Odyssey keeping watch on everything!

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: Great Rumbler on May 21, 2008, 07:05:47 PM

Those things still going? That's pretty impressive.

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 09:30:09 PM

I grabbed this today. Mars Rovers are the best!

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-N-E1KXEL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: Bildi on May 21, 2008, 09:34:35 PM

I've always thought the opaque balloons they use for bringing space things down to the ground look so weird.

I've never heard of the Mars Odyssey.  Is it required to relay information from the Rovers or something?

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 09:37:05 PM

Yup, its a relay, but it does a BUNCH of other stuff too

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: Bildi on May 21, 2008, 09:50:56 PM

I don't know a great deal about Mars but if I remember correctly one side is all abused with tons of craters while the other side is smooth?  I find that stuff pretty fascinating but it's a long time since I've read things on it.

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 09:53:33 PM

You may wanna netflix the History Channel show 'The Universe' if you like this kinda stuff! The shows almost done with season 2.

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: Bildi on May 21, 2008, 10:40:19 PM

I'm in Australia, but the DVDs should be available here or I'll import them.  Thanks for the heads up.

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 10:42:13 PM

I think you can also get the episodes from XBox Live, maybe iTunes

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: MrAngryFace on May 21, 2008, 10:48:01 PM

Ahh the pathfinder

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Sojourner_on_Mars_PIA01122.jpg/651px-Sojourner_on_Mars_PIA01122.jpg)

Title: Re: Mars Landers & Rovers = Awesome
Post by: Bildi on May 21, 2008, 10:53:14 PM

If you saw what we have on Xbox Live in terms of videos in Australia, you'd laugh your ass off.  There's almost nothing there.

iTunes might be a go though.