Mars Rover Lands Tonight - 1:30 AM

[Rickster71]

launched on Nov. 26, 2011, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity lands tonight at about 1:30 AM. Or technically early Monday morning.
Mars Science Laboratory: Where is Curiosity?

Looks really complex. Just the landing alone, looks like there's going to be a lot going on.

 

[Adam]

It's at about 10:30pm here, so I think that I'll check it out.

It would be really cool if they have onboard video and/or have one of the existing rovers watch it from the ground. But, we'll just be watching engineers in a white room staring anxiously at monitors.

 

[Rickster71]

It's at about 10:30pm here, so I think that I'll check it out.

It would be really cool if they have onboard video and/or have one of the existing rovers watch it from the ground. But, we'll just be watching engineers in a white room staring anxiously at monitors.

Sounds like they will try something as to what you've mentioned.
HiRISE Camera to Attempt Imaging Curiosity’s Descent to Mars

 

[Adam]

Less than 10 minutes away...in case anyone interested forgot about it.

 

[Adam]

Touch down, babeee!!!

As I suspected, video of engineers in a white-ish room staring at monitors...followed by video of really, really happy engineers in a white-ish room.

Jokes aside, it was pretty exciting.

 

[Adam]

I thought that this video was pretty darn cool! It's a movie of the descent as seen from the bottom of the rover (real images taken by the rover). Pretty cool to see the dust blowing off the ground and the wheel pop down.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

 

[Adam]

Never gets old...

 

[Irvrobinson]

This is one of things the US space program should do, in addition to space telescopes and observatories. The Space Station and other manned space travel is bunk, IMO. Too many silly Star Trek dreams. Of course, Obama will rant about this being something free enterprise didn't do, that we can thank big government for it, when no one mentions that Curiosity wouldn't have happened without Boeing and Lockheed-Martin. They are the real heroes. Yes, they did build that.