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Mars Rover ‘Curiosity’ set for hair raising descent to the surface
NASA, who knows a thing or two about space PR, is calling the latest Mars probe’s descent to the surface “7 Minutes of Terror.” And why not? It’s never been tried before, and given the track record for Mars landers, it is more than possible that it won’t work and $2.5 billion of US taxpayer money will end up as a smudge on the surface of the Red Planet.
But, in a way, it is heartening. NASA is taking a risk with the reward being advancing our knowledge and understanding of Mars further and faster than any other probe ever sent. Curiosity is the size of a small car, the largest planetary lander in history. Thus, the unusual re-entry system where several complex maneuvers will guide the craft down to the surface.
Reuters explains:
Over twice as large and five times heavier than either of the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity that landed on Mars in 2004, Curiosity weighs too much to bounce to the surface in airbags or fly itself to the ground with rocket thrusters, systems successfully used by six previous NASA landers.
Instead, rocket power will be used in combination with several other components during Curiosity’s descent and landing.
Plunging through the top of Mars’ atmosphere at an angle producing slight aerodynamic lift, the capsule’s “guided entry” system uses jet thrusters that actually steer the craft as it falls, making small course corrections on the way down.
At an altitude of seven miles (11 km) and a velocity of 900 mph (1,448 kph), a giant parachute will open, and in less than half a minute, the heat shield will fall away, exposing the underside of the rover.
John Cooper
August 5th, 2012
If this works, it will be an absolutely astounding feat. No doubt most Americans will be too busy watching American Idol to notice, though.
IronyCurtain
August 5th, 2012
This would be amazing and wonderful if not for the fact that the research gathered by today’s NASA will probably prove two things conclusively:
1. Evil humans are killing the planet and need to start turning off their air conditions if they are Republicans.
2. We need to do more Muslim Outreach.
Anyone remember when space travel was something we could all look forward to?
Gerg
August 5th, 2012
I believe to label the landing a “re-entry” is a bit askew. In order for it to be correctly labeled a “re-entry” wouldn’t it have had to originate from Mars?
Edith McCrotch
August 5th, 2012
I question the “$2.5 billion of US taxpayer money will end up as a smudge on the surface of the Red Planet.” if it doesn’t work statement.
Other than the actual material cost of the machine itself which is probably a couple of hundred thousand(?), most of that $2.5 billion is still down here on earth.
Joe
August 5th, 2012
Irony Curtain is right… we need to thank all the muslims for helping us with their contributions to space flight. We couldn’t have done it without them.
not all lost
August 5th, 2012
hey cheer up.. ten years from now we’ll all begin to hear about how back in ’04 all the muslins at the muslin aeronautics and space admininstration used some of the algebra they say they invented..oh, AND the ‘ZERO’ and put together a little rocket ship named the moohamhed 5 and the nuclear roller skate to find and behead infidels and show the west how superior they are…
and you paid for it