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Mars Science Laboratory to Liftoff at ~10am

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

Check out the crazy landing method:
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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:
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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.

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.
 
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.
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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