It has been some time since I posted a science or nature (gardens don't count!) topic, but how can I pass this one up? It was a bold plan, an awesome visual, and let's face it...it's basically a sci-fi reality; the landing of Mars Curiosity. Full news story here.
So we've been to Mars dozens of times, they're looking for something more than just ice crystals. I smell a scenario writeup! Ahem, I digress, this landing is just awesome, pure and simple. After screaming through the thin atmosphere a dropship deploys from the heat shield. All of the dust from firing the retros would be damaging so what to do? Hit the retros on the lander well above the surface then lower the car sized rover below via sky-crane, then fly the lander somewhere else to touch down. That's very cool, below I posted a CGI mockup of the process. Rock on.
This was great news to me. Anytime any probe fails to reach mars, it sets back the program by years. Each success brings us that much closer to getting man there.
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty ambitious plan too, and it went off without a hitch, just too cool for words. The Russian manned Mars plan is to just put them in orbit, not touch down, which is feasible. Lots of hurdles though in the process...well, obviously!
DeleteMan that is so cool!
ReplyDeleteWas watching NASA's program last night. Great stuff it was. Wonder when they're drop a rover with a video camera though. Some clips of it scanning would be super ace!
ReplyDeleteThat would be great to see!
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