Mars rover says: 'good evening gale crater!'

[micropage7]

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover sent back its first high-resolution pictures from its new home inside Gale Crater, offering a stunning view of the towering Mount Sharp. The three-mile-high mound -- taller than any mountain in the continental United States -- is Curiosity's ultimate destination, a site that scientists believe may harbor evidence of habitats that could support life

The dark areas at the base of the mountain are sand dunes. Curiosity touched down at 1:32 am EDT Monday in the northern part of Gale Crater about 4 miles from Mount Sharp. "It's pretty spectacular," said deputy project scientist Joy Crisp.

http://news.discovery.com/space/big-pic-mars-rover-opportunity-mt-sharp-120806.html
http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-curiosity-red-planet-photos-120816.html#mkcpgn=fbdsc8

 

[H82LUZ73]

The say it will start in a (day or two) taking HD Color pictures.Man I can not wait until then.Congrats to everyone involved at NASA.

 

[de.das.dude]

Color pics ftw!

 

[DarkOCean]

where are the aliens?

 

[de.das.dude]

they got scared of the rover and ran away. or maybe they absorb light in visible spectrum and are hence invisible

 

[Lionheart]

Amazing

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

I can't stress how truly amazing this is. Yet, I'm angry. The Mars Rover gets third billing to an event where people show off how good they are at arbitrary sports competitions, and yet another shooting.

I'm getting tired of how often truly great accomplishments are eclipsed by stupidity.

 

[mlee49]

Lets take a minute to recap:

We sent a remote controlled car 155 Billion miles away to take pictures on a different planet.


HOW FREAKIN COOL IS THAT!!!!!

 

[AlienIsGOD]

where are the aliens?

im right here

 

[NinkobEi]

I can't stress how truly amazing this is. Yet, I'm angry. The Mars Rover gets third billing to an event where people show off how good they are at arbitrary sports competitions, and yet another shooting.

I'm getting tired of how often truly great accomplishments are eclipsed by stupidity.

I'd say the Olympics are in the upper-tier of human accomplishments. If you want to be really pissed off, go visit a mall. I was walking around and saw a booth selling T-shirts that said something like 'I like wandering around doing hood-rat stuff' for $30. There were like 30 different shirts with similar sayings. I don't want to live on this planet any more.

 

[Frogger]

first color images http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/index.html

 

[NinkobEi]

first color images http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/index.html

I think those were taken by the satellite. There simply too high up for Curiosity to have taken them.

 

[TheMailMan78]

I'd say the Olympics are in the upper-tier of human accomplishments. If you want to be really pissed off, go visit a mall. I was walking around and saw a booth selling T-shirts that said something like 'I like wandering around doing hood-rat stuff' for $30. There were like 30 different shirts with similar sayings. I don't want to live on this planet any more.

Hey man thats how I make my money. I'm the guy who makes those shirts!

On a side note doesn't it suck they closed the bulk of NASA down for more useless spending? Look what can be done. RC car to Mars! Thats the kinda money I like to see wasted! Not some pet study to find out why grapes are round so some congressman's nephew who owns a grape farm can get rich.

 

[Frogger]

I think those were taken by the satellite. There simply too high up for Curiosity to have taken them.

first pic in the show http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/PIA15691.html

 

[Drone]

Color pics ftw!

Well here you go:

It's a stop-motion video which shows 297 frames from Curiosity's descent. Much more interesting stuff.

 

[Bow]

Just amazing!
I wonder if i can get a mars rover app for my phone?

 

[TheMailMan78]

If I were at NASA I would find the old rover and monster truck over it with the new one! GRAVE DIGGER STYLE!

 

[copenhagen69]

how can they tell the height of stuff from what the rover sends back?

 

[HossHuge]

Just released picture.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This gives an idea of how large the rover is:

 

[HossHuge]

I've read that it is powered by a nuke but it is only going to last for ten years. That doesn't seem right.

I hope the next place they go is Europa.

 

[TheMailMan78]

I've read that it is powered by a nuke but it is only going to last for ten years. That doesn't seem right.

I hope the next place they go is Europa.

Its nuke powered and will only last 7 years AFAIK.

 

[HossHuge]

Its nuke powered and will only last 7 years AFAIK.

From BBC

Initially, the rover is funded for two Earth years of operations. But many expect this mission to roll and roll for perhaps a decade or more.

Why would they give it enough juice for 14 years but only fund it for two?

 

[TheMailMan78]

From BBC



http://img.techpowerup.org/120807/rover.jpg

Why would they give it enough juice for 14 years but only fund it for two?

Cool man thanks! I honestly haven't read on it much but the local news here (I live very close to the Space Center) was saying it was 7 years tops. However I belive the BBC more.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It has a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. They don't use U-235 like BWR nuclear reactors use.

After 14 years, it won't generate enough power to continue to function.


All the work they need to accomplished for the mission to be considered a success likely must be done in two years. If it lasts longer than that, it's icing on the cake. If it lasts less, the mission will largely be a scientific failure.


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