** The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond **
- Thread starter Cosimo
- Start date
Soldato
Well they're tests, there's not much to learn from a test where everything goes according to plan.
And really, that was mostly a success. Motor ignition, thrust values, tower jettison, parachute deployment - all worked brilliantly. It did, however, point out two main areas they need to work on - in flight stability and on the water orientation.
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Associate
Well that's... slightly better than sitting on top of an exploding rocket, i suppose
So that's what happens if you attach rockets to the fairground Waltzer!
Soldato
On the LES video? That would be packing foam. Well, polystyrene balls. They put them in so that even if the capsule was damaged they could still recover it, rather than having it sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Soldato
Jeebus - not by much! Those chutes didn't have a hope in hell of opening in time. (re the escape rocket thing)
Soldato
Well that's because it didn't reach the intended altitude. They'd set the chutes to open slowly, so they avoid sharp changes in g forces which could lead to the chutes just being ripped off. The problem wasn't in the chutes, but in the stability.
Soldato
Yeah figured that - sorry didn't read any of the back story. Has to be gutting to have a "back to the drawing board" moment at that stage.
Soldato
Well it's not a back to the drawing board moment, it was a test that wasn't a complete success. Which means they have something to work with, things to learn from and they know where and what they need to improve. A successful test would be worrying as it could be just hiding a problem that could sneak up on you when it matters.
Soldato
I don't know about it being worrying - it's not a new concept by any means.
Soldato
I'd say that it was the housing/covering for the 'head' of the camera mast when it was folded down.
EDIT: yep that's seems to be it
Soldato
- Joined
- 7 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 11,014
Question, is there anywhere on the web posting live data from Curiosity?
Im really interested in what the environmental conditions are around the rover, temp, pressure etc, it would be awesome to get a daily weather report from Mars.
Im really interested in what the environmental conditions are around the rover, temp, pressure etc, it would be awesome to get a daily weather report from Mars.
There may be something on the mission site but I suspect that it's being kept in-house for analysis. You could always email and ask.
Soldato
That 360 panorama is amazing, wonder how long it is until they can make it true colour.
The small antenna looking thing near the rear right of the rover is actually its sundial and has a colour on each corner so they can match the colouring correctly.
It's just a sepia image at the moment.
The small antenna looking thing near the rear right of the rover is actually its sundial and has a colour on each corner so they can match the colouring correctly.
It's just a sepia image at the moment.
