** The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond **

[Mik3]

Why is there no Sol 6? Will we not have daily updates now?

 

[Combat squirrel]

Updated video:

​

I thought it was going to be an actual video not a still image they are panning about

 

[Cosimo]

any Sol update today?

Nothing published yet. This is last update:

Curiosity Preps for a Planned 'Brain Transplant'
Sat, 11 Aug 2012 12:34:28 AM UTC+0100


A healthy Curiosity spent Sol 4, its fifth day on Mars, preparing for this weekend's planned "brain transplant"--transitioning to a new version of flight software on both of Curiosity's redundant main computers. The new software is better suited for Mars surface operations, such as driving and using Curiosity's robotic arm. The "brain transplant" will take place during a series of steps beginning this evening and continuing through Aug. 13. The new software was uploaded to the rover's memory during the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft's flight from Earth. Key capabilities in the new software enable full use of Curiosity's powerful robotic arm and drill, and advanced image processing to check for obstacles while driving. This will ultimately allow Curiosity to make longer drives by giving the rover more autonomy to identify and avoid potential hazards and to drive along a safe path that the rover identifies for itself.



The flight team elected to defer further science activities until after the flight software transition is completed. Several Mastcam color images were downlinked. The mission's science team is busy analyzing images Curiosity has taken of its surroundings, and is discussing features of interest that they will investigate in a few weeks once initial checkouts of the rover and the landing site are completed.

 

[Mp4]

bah i just found n read that too ..lol

all good though I hope we get some feedback later on how the uploading of software went. I found that amazing that they uploaded the software in flight to Mars and had it idle, and even to do software updates is amazing.

 

[mrk]

This mission really is one of the historical moments of our lifetimes and indeed the entire planet Earth from now onwards. Less than 100 years ago look at where we were flight wise and now look, we have a probe on Mars mooching around doing its thing and sending back pictures.

We will definitely be seeing humans on Mars in our lifetime IMO.

 

[StriderX]

This mission really is one of the historical moments of our lifetimes and indeed the entire planet Earth from now onwards. Less than 100 years ago look at where we were flight wise and now look, we have a probe on Mars mooching around doing its thing and sending back pictures.

We will definitely be seeing humans on Mars in our lifetime IMO.

Not to be an ass, but we have had probes up there for decades.

I suppose the only difference is that this one is literally a laboratory on space wheels.

 

[Cosimo]

Not to be an ass, but we have had probes up there for decades.

I suppose the only difference is that this one is literally a laboratory on space wheels.

The Rover history:

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

Spirit is silent but Opportunity is still operating:

http://marsrover.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

 

[StriderX]

The Rover history:

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

Spirit is silent but Opportunity is still operating:

http://marsrover.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

20 seconds for something in 1971, id say that counts

/tries to save pointless post.

 

[mrk]

Yes that is what I was getting at. Curiosity is the first of its kind and a huge step from previous missions.

 

[Cosimo]

Yes that is what I was getting at. Curiosity is the first of its kind and a huge step from previous missions.

I see, I'm glad you managed to clear that up.

 

[Cosimo]

20 seconds for something in 1971, id say that counts

/tries to save pointless post.

The Russians thought it was a success. The subsequent American missions have all counted.

 

[Cosimo]

Mars 360:

http://www.360cities.net/image/curiosity-rover-martian-solar-day-2#86.11,18.61,110.0

 

[DJMK4]

Crazy looking at that 360 shot. Looks so much like some random dusty place on earth.

 

[Cosimo]

Update:

​

 

[Cosimo]

Latest Curiosity rover mission images released as part of today's teleconference:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16056.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16057.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16058.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16026.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16053.html

 

[GarethSouthgate]

Just in case it hasn't been posted before; simulation of the decent and current live feed:

http://eyes.nasa.gov/

 

[SteveOBHave]

there's a pretty decent amount of rubble sitting on the rover - there still must've been a fair amount of 'stuff' kicked up with the landing.

 

[Kevin Clark]

Anyone know what the white plastic tray type things are on the top? There's a group of 3 near the middle.

 

[Cosimo]

Preview of the two spacewalks (20th/30th) taking place on the space station:

​

 

[PermaBanned]

Well that's... slightly better than sitting on top of an exploding rocket, i suppose