Not powered by Tabbies, but still a space ship!

[A7inchPhildo]

Just wanted to share the News of the rover that landed today on Mars.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/space_mars_dc

 

[Guest]

I was beginning to think there was some secret alien force on Mars preventing any of our rovers from broadcasting information!

I am glad to hear it landed safely!

Excellent!

(at least the Martians haven't yet disabled it)

 

[Quasimodem]

Well, 7 of 9 inches, I only hope that Mars really is a lifeless planet.

Had the Martians been busy groking their navels, or effing the ineffable for the past five millennia, I should hate to think what was their reaction when they looked up to see our emissary’s arrival.

On a slightly more serious note, seeing that it made it to Mars, I suppose we really should begin to call it the Red Rover, in spite of past ideological nomenclature.

 

[Guest]

. . . On a slightly more serious note, seeing that it made it to Mars, I suppose we really should begin to call it the Red Rover, in spite of past ideological nomenclature.

Oh, I like that!

Red Rover, Red Rover, send Quasi right over!

(of course, if the Martians have already ray-gunned the little ship, I imagine we're all shit out of luck.)

 

[Seattle Zack]

Seattle's own Bill Nye the Science Guy came up with the sundial that's being used on the Red Rover.

http://www.gizmobytes.com/

When I first suggested the sundial to the (Mars) team, they said to me, 'Bill, dude, this is for NASA, the space program. We have a lot of really good clocks,' " said Bill Nye The Science Guy, cracking that wry smile familiar to those who have seen his antics on television.

But Nye persisted and, if Spirit survives its Jan. 3 landing, the Red Planet will be home to the first extraterrestrial sundial -- known as a MarsDial -- thanks mostly to him and fellow "gnomonocist" (sundial enthusiast) University of Washington astronomer Woody Sullivan. The Opportunity is planned to follow Jan. 25.

Nye and Sullivan hope the events will help them recruit others to build "EarthDial," a planet-wide network of sundials tracked by Webcam to create on the Internet a real-time, visual reckoning of "solar time" across the two worlds.

"A sundial is all about place on the planet and your relation to the cosmos," said Sullivan, who said he's already sparked interest in EarthDial from around the world.

Nye was able to convince NASA that they needed a sundial on their Martian rover during the project planning phase in 1998, after he learned they were already going to attach a device to better determine colors.

Remote digital images taken during past Mars missions have had no reference, or calibration scale, to help scientists accurately determine the correct "tint" of the images.

How red, exactly, are those Martian rocks? Is the sky, if not blue, yellow-orange or orange-yellow? It's not just a matter of aesthetics. Color indicates mineral content and atmospheric composition.

NASA had planned to calibrate using an erect post set in a color chart. The idea was to compare various colors in shadow and direct light to accurately adjust the natural tint.

A post? A shadow?

When Nye saw the color-calibration method planned for the rover, he realized it would just take one small step for mankind to transform the device into a sundial. He could add function without adding weight. Eureka! Nye was ecstatic.

The Cornell University team hired by NASA to construct the Mars rover agreed to do it as a matter of public education and outreach. Nye asked Sullivan and his UW colleague, precision machinist Larry Stark, to help design and build it.

Made of anodized aluminum, the Mars sundial is a work of art. Around the center post (gnomon) are concentric rings, a blue and red dot representing the orbits of Earth and Mars. Though just 3 inches square, it is laser-engraved with a lengthy statement of purpose, the word "Mars" in 17 languages and tiny stick-figure humans.

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More Mars stuff:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

http://www.marsnews.com/

http://www.floridatoday.com/news/space/mars/marsroversindex.htm

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Seattle's own Bill Nye the Science Guy came up with the sundial that's being used on the Red Rover.

http://www.gizmobytes.com/

-------------
More Mars stuff:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

http://www.marsnews.com/

http://www.floridatoday.com/news/space/mars/marsroversindex.htm

Thanks Zack that was great reading. I love that kind of stuff.

sarahh I do not know if Martians have ray guns but I hear they use the tongue like a scarf.

Quasi As I am no longer part of the collective. I hope it is not inhabited too.
What if they find a lost civilization? Could it be just like the "Planet of the Apes movie"?

Or worse if there are living people there does the US. have to support them as well?

Would that mean the land I bought on the Internet didn't come with a clean title? (calling my attorney first thing in the morning. No little misfit munchkin Martian is going to dupe me out of my retirement home.)




Edgar Rice Burroughs A Princess of Mars

CHAPTER III



MY ADVENT ON MARS

I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I.

 

[whispering_surrender]

Well, 7 of 9 inches, I only hope that Mars really is a lifeless planet.

*choke, laugh, cough*

Whisp

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I was beginning to think there was some secret alien force on Mars preventing any of our rovers from broadcasting information!

I am glad to hear it landed safely!

Excellent!

(at least the Martians haven't yet disabled it)

I am betting on Calvin and Hobbes type wierdos from another planet

-Colly

 

[MathGirl]

When you think of all the things that could have possibly gone wrong in a project like that, it's hard to imagine that it could possibly have succeeded. I, for one, think it's a wonderful accomplishment. The team I was on in grad school worked with the JPL in some of the less cool but very necessary hardware. I feel like I might have even had a tiny bit of participation in the project.
MG

 

[damppanties]

I am betting on Calvin and Hobbes type wierdos from another planet

-Colly

If only I could have Calvin and Hobbes existing on this planet, I wouldn't mind those weirdos anywhere.

 

[Mhari]

The Martians don't seem to mind the rovers, for some reason. It's just everything else they disable...

*toddles off to re-read The Martian Chronicles*

 

[Colleen Thomas]

If only I could have Calvin and Hobbes existing on this planet, I wouldn't mind those weirdos anywhere.

Considering Calvin's propensity for mayhem, including the infamous Noodles incident I would settle for Watterson just bringing my favorite cartoon characters back to me. I still have the final cartoon, framed and matted and haning in my bed room. I still reread all my collections now and again.

-Colly

 

[damppanties]

I still have the final cartoon, framed and matted and haning in my bed room. I still reread all my collections now and again.

-Colly

I think I love you.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I think I love you.

If I invite you over and promise to let you scribble on my Captain Napalm comics can I remove all doubt?

-Colly

 

[damppanties]

If I invite you over and promise to let you scribble on my Captain Napalm comics can I remove all doubt?

-Colly

If I do that all day and nothing else, will you let me stay for about three months, with an option to renew the stay time?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

If I do that all day and nothing else, will you let me stay for about three months, with an option to renew the stay time?

Absolutely! But bring your own crayons, I have used up all my cadmium red already

-Colly

 

[A7inchPhildo]

When you think of all the things that could have possibly gone wrong in a project like that, it's hard to imagine that it could possibly have succeeded. I, for one, think it's a wonderful accomplishment. The team I was on in grad school worked with the JPL in some of the less cool but very necessary hardware. I feel like I might have even had a tiny bit of participation in the project.
MG

When you think of all the time money and failled missions. I think many things have gone wrong in the past. I am just glad they are not giving up.
It is good that they finally have had a bit more luck this time, I think they neded it to keep the spirits high.

As I don't think I have had a direct participation, as you may have had. I still support and desire the over all results.
Besides in some small way it was my tax money that pays for the $840 mil needed to buy toilet seats, and $100. that paid for the rover.

 

[A7inchPhildo]

The Martians don't seem to mind the rovers, for some reason. It's just everything else they disable...

*toddles off to re-read The Martian Chronicles*

Mhari,

That is simple because the Martians think this is just another golf cart!