Author Topic: Mars (Read 1109 times)

pwhole · « **on:** February 19, 2021, 10:46:57 am »

Meanwhile, the search for future caves gets underway. Best news all week in my world

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/overview/

RobinGriffiths · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2021, 10:57:11 am »

Yes, incredible accomplishment that. Loved the rocket cradle mechanism.

pwhole · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2021, 11:16:13 am »

Do you think a 'friendly' shootout between Perseverance and the UAE mission could be arranged? Just to spice things up a bit for the non-sciencey types

wellyjen · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2021, 08:41:32 pm »

Quote from: pwhole on February 19, 2021, 11:16:13 am

Do you think a 'friendly' shootout between Perseverance and the UAE mission could be arranged? Just to spice things up a bit for the non-sciencey types

Apparently Perseverance has an ultraviolet laser. They claim it is for spectrometry, but I reckon NASA are thinking along the same lines as you.

tim.rose2 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2021, 08:56:24 pm »

Now there's a future programme I'd like to see... Robot Wars, Mars special. Just need to get Craig Charles out of retirement to commentate.

Fishes · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2021, 08:57:34 pm »

UV laser spectrometry can be especially good for determining the structure of organic molecules found in living organisms. The details are boring to anyone not interested in spectroscopy but the results could be much more interesting that Martian laser quest.

RobinGriffiths · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2021, 09:04:49 pm »

The UAE might be using it's mission to smuggle undesirables out of the country on a permanent basis?

Duck ditch · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2021, 09:07:08 pm »

Certainly looks like a dried up stream. What do you think microorganisms or not. It would be amazing if they identify an ex microorganism.

mikem · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2021, 09:48:36 pm »

Lava stream?

pwhole · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2021, 11:17:10 pm »

The last minute of this video is really exciting as it shows rocks on the ground next to the rover that are heavily-pitted, and could be volcanic or sedimentary:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2021/feb/19/nasa-reveals-new-colour-images-of-mars-from-perseverance-rover-video

Steve Clark · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2021, 09:45:42 am »

Quote from: RobinGriffiths on February 19, 2021, 10:57:11 am

Yes, incredible accomplishment that. Loved the rocket cradle mechanism.

Amazing technology. The curiosity rover successfully used the same mechanism 8 years ago, which presumably means it was developed over 20 years ago. Interesting how the media is much more interested this time. That must be a good thing.

Both rovers are powered by tiny thermal nuclear generators (2.5kW for years). That doesn’t get some much coverage, presumably to avoid attention from the anti-everything conspiracy idiots.

pwhole · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2021, 10:01:24 am »

Well they're welcome to protest and blockade the site

mikem · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2021, 10:05:55 am »

I don't think the UAE have a lander / rover, whereas the Chinese probe does.

2xw · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2021, 11:57:45 am »

I'm voting yes on microorganism fossils in this crater which is a lake bed (complete with fan delta). In combination with biosignatures on Venus could change how we view life in the universe

mikem · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2021, 12:17:36 pm »

It does also depend on deposition being conducive to preservation, even if they existed.

pwhole · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2021, 08:26:08 pm »

There's a rather nice geological map of Mars on the Wikipedia entry:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/USGS-MarsMap-sim3292-20140714-crop.png

RobinGriffiths · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2021, 09:22:04 pm »

Blimey, I've only just noticed they've taken a helicopter (drone??) with them! If that works, it'll be a pretty impressive achievement. Looks like it will have to survive some cold night though with it's off the shelf lithium batteries.

https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8867/nasas-mars-helicopter-reports-in/

pwhole · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2021, 11:59:01 pm »

This video is incredible - shot from beneath the parachute, the entire landing from 10km up:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/22/nasa-releases-video-of-perseverance-rover-landing-on-mars

Huge · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2021, 08:32:20 am »

Watched the video of the landing on YouTube last night. It is incredible!

One of the comments suggested that this is the very first video shot on Mars. There have only been a series of still images stiched together to make rather jumpy films in the past.

mrodoc · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2021, 10:15:46 am »

The parachute was made local to us in Tiverton believe it or not.

Pitlamp · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2021, 11:10:52 am »

Did the BEC manage to get a sticker on it then?

mrodoc · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2021, 02:33:59 pm »

Missed a trick there didn't we!

Badlad · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2021, 04:29:32 pm »

Anyone seen the episode of the Big Bang Theory where Howard tries to chat up a girl by offering her a chance 'to drive a car on Mars". Back in the lab, of course he gets the Mars Rover stuck in a ditch. Leonard get off with the girl whilst Howard and the gang try to get the Rover unstuck. All is lost and they cover their 'tracks' only to later hear the announcement that in the ditch the Rover discovered the first life on Mars. its a hoot of an episode

Pitlamp · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2021, 07:21:59 pm »

Quote from: mrodoc on February 23, 2021, 02:33:59 pm

Missed a trick there didn't we!

I bet you're just not admitting to it (yet)!

oldfart · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2021, 09:21:48 am »

There is some sort of message encoded in the stripes of the parachute.