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Mars Science Laboratory to Liftoff at ~10am

PottedMeat

PottedMeat

Lifer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory

Check out the crazy landing method:
969mx0.jpg

1zv4cb7.jpg


NASA Animation: http://news.yahoo.com/video/science...ence-15749654%2Fmission-to-mars-27397919.html

The sky crane portion seems quite a bit more complex than anything they've done before.
 
It's sad the Russians can't be this successfully with their Mars probes.
They have made contact with their Phobos-Grunt spacecraft this week but they have not been able to communicate with it since.
 
Meanwhile, back at the Russia launch station, leaders are debating whether to stop serving vodka prior to launching vehicles.
 
Congrats to Nasa for a successful launch! I just hope that the rest of the mission goes as smoothly. That skycrane thing looks kinda risky.

On another note, Phobos-Grunt is the perfect example of why we need in-orbit satellite repair/servicing capability. Then again, even if our X-37B craft were capable of performing repair, politics between Russia and the US would get in the way.
 
This was my favorite project that I've ever worked on. Hopefully someday I'll be able to read my name on the gold plaque, on the surface of Mars. 🙂

Pictures for those interested:
snc00027.jpg


snc00026g.jpg

snc00067s.jpg
 
Last edited:
MovingTarget said:
Congrats to Nasa for a successful launch! I just hope that the rest of the mission goes as smoothly. That skycrane thing looks kinda risky.
Click to expand...

its similar to what they did with the rovers, but the rovers were much smaller and lighter, and so were dropped from the sky crane from something like 40ft and bounced around on airbags.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zHPATuJfQ0

this thing weighs something like a ton...so they dont want to bounce it. they already know the parachute/skycrane portion works so i think it will go well.
 
xSauronx said:
its similar to what they did with the rovers, but the rovers were much smaller and lighter, and so were dropped from the sky crane from something like 40ft and bounced around on airbags.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zHPATuJfQ0

this thing weighs something like a ton...so they dont want to bounce it. they already know the parachute/skycrane portion works so i think it will go well.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this rover is about the size of a mini cooper. The older rovers were more like the size of those power wheels toys that little kids ride.
 
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