asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.A failed landing could put NASA's Mars exploration in doubt. The White House 2013 budget request would cut planetary science from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion and Mars funding from $587 million this year to $360 million in 2013 and $189 million in 2015. NASA has already left the ExoMars partnership with Europe. Officials hope a success, and discoveries afterwards, will help bring funding back. Source
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.PintOfMild wrote:Spot on with that! You've got to take a proper punt if you want to achieve anything grand like this.Taking a proper punt sounds fine down at the betting shop, my friend, but here we are talking about two and a half billion dollars of public money... That is an enormous amount of wealth to gamble on an untested stunt like a rocket crane lowering fragile machinery on cords.
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.TheyKnow wrote:It is not being overly pessimistic to point out that staking that much treasure on an all-or-nothing roll of the dice is a terrible waste of resources.Worrying about where else the funds might have gone does not change the fact that the craft is already on its final approach. The money was spent, the engineering was done, and the rover is arriving whether we fret over the balance sheet or not.
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.Punchcard wrote:Worrying about where else the funds might have gone does not change the fact that the craft is already on its final approach.Too true, Walter! Blimey, the cheques have already cleared and the thing is nearly knocking on the front door, so there is no use crying over spilt milk or locked bank vaults now.
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.Punchcard wrote:Until then, the controllers have done all they can. We may as well get some rest while we can.Too right, Walter. Nothing left to do now except let the telemetry do the talking.
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.Mars' rotation will take Curiosity out of direct contact with Earth a few minutes before landing, so NASA's Mars Odyssey will relay its signals in real time. With a signal delay of about 14 minutes, the team could know the result at 10:31 p.m. PDT (05:31 UTC). Deputy project manager Richard Cook says the first relay might include black-and-white fisheye pictures from the hazard cameras. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will try to photograph the descent, but its data arrive hours later. Source
After 8.5 months in space, Curiosity is on its final approach and is due to land tonight at 10:31 p.m. PDT (05:31 UTC on 6 August). NASA stresses that success is not guaranteed. Curiosity is not a life-detection mission, but officials say its results should prepare the way for future searches and for returning samples from Mars. Source
asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.asOf = this post's time. Later posts and news do not exist for this card.