MOONBASE CENTRAL: There goes the Neighbourhood!

Monday, 6 August 2012

There goes the Neighbourhood!

I don't know. You leave the base for a couple of days and somebody comes knocking. Typical. Nasa's Curiosity Mars Rover touched down in Gale Crater on Mars just this morning in a spectacularly complex landing sequence involving supersonic brake chutes and the revolutionary retro assisted 'Skycrane'. Due to the thinness of the martian atmosphere, just a plain parachute landing would be ineffectual for the van-sized probe, so as the vehicle neared the surface, the upper section of the lander detached, suspending curiosity on cables, while the retros on the Skycrane slowed the whole probe sufficiently for a soft landing to be made. The cables were then released and the Skycrane flew off for a separate landing elsewhere. The whole seven minute operation was controlled entirely by Curiosity's on board cpu and in the spirit of modern social networking, the probe actually 'Tweeted' from the surface:

MarsCuriosity I'm safely on the surface of Mars. GALE CRATER I AM IN YOU!!!

Its come a long way since the early days of fuzzy monochrome snaps from Mariner!

13 comments:

Bill Everatt said...: Do you think it will find any sign of any Rock Snakes, or the odd Mysteron Complex??? Could you imagine the "Tweet" it would send if it did find one? - Enjoy the Blog, a regular reader from the world of Commercial Radio!; Monday, 6 August 2012 09:58:00 BST
WOTAN said...: Welcome Bill - Imagine that Tweet:

@MARSCURIOSITY - CRATER 101 - I AM IN Y...BBBZZZTTT

Houston - weve got another problem..

OO; Monday, 6 August 2012 10:03:00 BST
Bill Everatt said...: I think that tweet would probably be from @OO - Maybe I can do an interview for one of my future programmes with you guys? You can contact me direct at http://www.celticaradio.com/mail/bill.html I seriously think Project Sword etc and these wonderful toy collections would make interesting subject matter.; Monday, 6 August 2012 10:29:00 BST
WOTAN said...: that would be great Bill - tried to drop you a line, but cant see the security code on that link.; Monday, 6 August 2012 10:43:00 BST
Bill Everatt said...: Hi Wotan. I think you're the first person we've come across to have problems with the security code. Try bill@celticaradio.com; Monday, 6 August 2012 11:32:00 BST
WOTAN said...: technology eh ? I can see live pics from Mars, but I cant even send an email! ha, ha.

Just dropped you a line Bill.; Monday, 6 August 2012 11:46:00 BST
Andy B said...: If you get that interview,
it would be great if someone put it on line so we can all hear it.; Monday, 6 August 2012 11:54:00 BST
WOTAN said...: Ill let Bill answer that one, but im sure current net radio access would allow it without a problem.; Monday, 6 August 2012 11:55:00 BST
Bill Everatt said...: Gentlemen, I've just replied to Wotan privately. - We will do the interview... And yes, my station makes available the programmes to download as free Podcasts for one week after the broadcast which takes place across a variety of platforms from AM Radio to Digital. Additionally, Celtica is not Geo-Locked so we can be received anywhere.

Try some downloads out...; Monday, 6 August 2012 14:01:00 BST
Ed "ICE" Berg said...: I don't know 'bout you guys, but I'm waiting for the Mars Rover toys - :-); Monday, 6 August 2012 14:28:00 BST
WOTAN said...: theres the obligatory Hot Wheels Curiosity Rover available already I think, but its only small.; Monday, 6 August 2012 14:29:00 BST
WOODSY said...: I love the Sky Crane! That would make one cool toy! Totally Matt Mason! Hope they stored the little rubber guy in the cargo hold of the rover!; Monday, 6 August 2012 15:41:00 BST
CS said...: Will certainly be downloading the proposed interview here in Canada. Wonderful idea!; Monday, 6 August 2012 16:58:00 BST