Curiosity killed the cat, but hopefully not the rover

[worldruler086]

For those of you not in the know, Curiosity, a NASA rover destined toward Mars, is getting ready to land tonight. I don't know the exact time of landing, but this landing is special because it was never done quite like this. You see, Curiosity is a very large rover, being 5 times as heavy as the previous Martian rovers. As a result, the traditional "blast shield, then cushion" method used on Mars isn't possible. So how does it land? well, in multiple stages.

The first stage is the blast shield, which burns through the light Martian atmosphere, bringing the ship to a slow 1000 miles per hour. Jets are fired to direct the ship to where it is supposed to land, with an uncertainty of 20km (compared to 100km with other methods). After the blast shield is done, mass weights are let go to reorient the ship.

Next is one of the largest parachutes ever used, with a diameter of 21 meters. This parachute has the potential of pulling back with up to 65000 pounds of force. this will slow the ship down to a much more tolerable 200 miles per hour.

About a mile up, the ship lets go of the parachute and launches a secondary rocket engine. Normally this would go down to the surface and let the rover go, but the exhaust can pick up dust, which could damage the rover. So, an ingenious method is used. The ship lowers to about 50 feet above the surface, in which the rover is lowered down with a rope. When the rover is on the ground, the rope is cut, and the ship is launched into a safe area to crash. Hopefully this will all go well. Discuss.

Edit: The Curiosity has landed.

[RevStoningpot]

wasting time and money. Just send people there already. We need another place we can live or we'll have to start killing people.

[LoneSoldier55]

For those of you not in the know, Curiosity, a NASA rover destined toward Mars, is getting ready to land tonight. I don't know the exact time of landing, but this landing is special because it was never done quite like this. You see, Curiosity is a very large rover, being 5 times as heavy as the previous Martian rovers. As a result, the traditional "blast shield, then cushion" method used on Mars isn't possible. So how does it land? well, in multiple stages.

The first stage is the blast shield, which burns through the light Martian atmosphere, bringing the ship to a slow 1000 miles per hour. Jets are fired to direct the ship to where it is supposed to land, with an uncertainty of 20km (compared to 100km with other methods). After the blast shield is done, mass weights are let go to reorient the ship.

Next is one of the largest parachutes ever used, with a diameter of 21 meters. This parachute has the potential of pulling back with up to 65000 pounds of force. this will slow the ship down to a much more tolerable 200 miles per hour.

About a mile up, the ship lets go of the parachute and launches a secondary rocket engine. Normally this would go down to the surface and let the rover go, but the exhaust can pick up dust, which could damage the rover. So, an ingenious method is used. The ship lowers to about 50 feet above the surface, in which the rover is lowered down with a rope. When the rover is on the ground, the rope is cut, and the ship is launched into a safe area to crash. Hopefully this will all go well. Discuss.

[worldruler086]

For those of you not in the know, Curiosity, a NASA rover destined toward Mars, is getting ready to land tonight. I don't know the exact time of landing, but this landing is special because it was never done quite like this. You see, Curiosity is a very large rover, being 5 times as heavy as the previous Martian rovers. As a result, the traditional "blast shield, then cushion" method used on Mars isn't possible. So how does it land? well, in multiple stages.

The first stage is the blast shield, which burns through the light Martian atmosphere, bringing the ship to a slow 1000 miles per hour. Jets are fired to direct the ship to where it is supposed to land, with an uncertainty of 20km (compared to 100km with other methods). After the blast shield is done, mass weights are let go to reorient the ship.

Next is one of the largest parachutes ever used, with a diameter of 21 meters. This parachute has the potential of pulling back with up to 65000 pounds of force. this will slow the ship down to a much more tolerable 200 miles per hour.

About a mile up, the ship lets go of the parachute and launches a secondary rocket engine. Normally this would go down to the surface and let the rover go, but the exhaust can pick up dust, which could damage the rover. So, an ingenious method is used. The ship lowers to about 50 feet above the surface, in which the rover is lowered down with a rope. When the rover is on the ground, the rope is cut, and the ship is launched into a safe area to crash. Hopefully this will all go well. Discuss.

Let me roughly translate the jumble: big ship going to Mars. Big ship needs special equipment because it is a big ship. Special equipment has never been used before. Special equipment may fail. If special equipment fails, no more big ship.

[LoneSoldier55]

[LoneSoldier55]

wasting time and money. Just send people there already. We need another place we can live or we'll have to start killing people.

>Implying that people haven't already begun to kill each other over shit that's as stupid as religion

[RevStoningpot]

well i'm talking mass population control

[LoneSoldier55]

well i'm talking mass population control

[Box]

How long can lone keep replying in memes and still keep it relevant?

[oldolwa]

I have wondered the same thing sooo many times box.