Rube Goldberg would be so proud..

[MikeP]

Have any of you guys read this/watched the video: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/25/12952477-what-a-win-or-loss-on-mars-will-mean

If this thing works it will represent a true triumph of "Weird Science!" I don't know the first thing about a Mars landing but if it's possible to engineer something with more "hope this works" stages, I can't imagine it. One would think there is an easier way but I guess they know what they're doing. Guess that's why they call it "Rocket Science!"

 

[smoothmove]

This looks a little like Mercedes designed it doesn't it? It will be a fantastic thing if it works. The price tag is high for everything to work as planned. I know they have some pretty sharp minds on the project, but I think back to some of the earlier misfortunes like the myopic Hubble design and the feet/meter mix-up on an earlier Mars mission and figure there is reason for concern.
Eric

 

[MikeP]

"This looks a little like Mercedes designed it doesn't it?"

LOL, exactly my thought - "How can we make this as complicated as possible?"

 

[Avenger]

OTOH, Opportuntiy is still puttering around up there 8 years later. Not bad for a machine designed to last 90 days that landed in a ball of balloons.

 

[MikeP]

I agree - I'm quite impressed with the two rovers but it seems that the ball of balloons was a pretty simple but effective way to do it. I guess I'm not understanding why they can't do the same thing - it's just another "rover" though maybe bigger. Perhaps the fact that they want it to come down in a particular spot as opposed to it bouncing for a couple of miles (or whatever) and hoping to be able to drive back is the primary issue. But it sure seems like a lot to go wrong with no way to immediately adjust if there's a malfunction.

It'll be very interesting to see if it works. Extreme potential for "heroes or goats" with not much middle ground.

 

[smoothmove]

The balloons worked well on the small rovers, but this thing is the size of a car and the physics don't work out. In the video the rover is lowered nicely in a controlled manner on a line and it sits calmly on the surface. I picture the thing swinging around wildly while the rockets do their best to compensate. The problem is that there can't really be any testing done in simialr conditions. It's a 2.5 billion dollar bet that it won't happen. We'll know for sure Aug 5 at 10:30.
Eric

 

[smoothmove]

PHEW! Congratulations NASA.

Now that I think about it. Despite the complicated nature, Rube Goldberg's stuff usually DID actually work, didn't it?.

ej

 

[eze2bme]

According to the news sources the rover landed successfully last night and is operating.

 

[MikeP]

HOLY $h1Tm the darned thing made it!!!!!!

I'm impressed! Now I'm wondering when plutonium-powered cars will become available on THIS planet.

 

[smoothmove]

Prepare to be more impressed. They got a picture of it.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012...aphs-split-second-when-curiosity-enters-mars/

ej

 

[Avenger]

Apparently it tweets too. Maybe that will get the new generation interested in science.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I AM impressed. Evidently it worked exactly the way it was supposed to and had a nice soft landing. I didn't realize Mars had enough atmosphere that a parachute would actually work. It must be a very large one- the Curiosity payload weighed about 900kg and there isn't much "air" for drag. What is the Mars atmosphere, anyway? Is any of it oxygen?

 

[MikeP]

Here's a quote from that paragon of knowledge, Wikipedia, re the mars atmosphere:

"The atmosphere on Mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen, water, and methane..."

I'm wondering if the methane comes from some of the Martian cows that apparently live in pastures under the surface somewhere. Hope they don't contribute to Martian global warming as some folks claim they are here on earth http://timeforchange.org/are-cows-cause-of-global-warming-meat-methane-CO2 OTOH, I guess Mars could use some global warming!

OK, seriously now - I actually had tears in my eyes watching a video of the JPL folks when it was confirmed that Curiosity had safely landed. Goes to show what we CAN do! And, as was pointed out earlier, although we laugh about Rube Goldberg inventions, no one claimed they didn't do the job!

One of these would be handy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOMIBdM6N7Q

 

[MarioG]

I must admit, I was totally geeked out watching it live on NASA tv. I stayed up and watched it real time. I cheered out loud in my hotel room! LOL!

 

[jim rosenthal]

We should leave some plants up there. They'd thrive with all that CO2.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We should leave some plants up there. They'd thrive with all that CO2.

Now you just need to find someone to water them. Oh, and that -82F would probably do a number on them.

 

[Newbieboater]

I don’t know guys that first step for man kink was pretty impressive.

JB

 

[Newbieboater]

I don’t know guys that first step for man-kind was pretty impressive.

Typos happen.

JB