Updates Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)

[Keatah]

I'm pretty sure one of the on-board cameras scans the ground during descent to find the optimal touch-down spot.

I'm not so sure that it does. I've read nothing to date that talks about lateral movement with the intent of avoiding objects. MARDI is used (afaik) to zero-out horizontal movement so that the rover is not dragged across the landscape.

 

[SolarLiner]

MARDI is used (afaik) to zero-out horizontal movement so that the rover is not dragged across the landscape.

MARDI is used to take pictures of the MSL's Landing Site, from 2 minutes of landing.

 

[Keatah]

MARDI is used to take pictures of the MSL's Landing Site, from 2 minutes of landing.

MARDI does that in order to zero-out lateral horizontal movements. But, is it smart enough to avoid the big rock in the center?

 

[N_Molson]

But, is it smart enough to avoid the big rock in the center?

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure they have thinked to that. My first concern would be about a computer bug or mechanical malfunction rather than a design problem.

I'm confident it will go well !

 

[Keatah]

I'm sure it will go well, but I'm trying to find out if the skycrane can do hazard avoidance. What if it gets blown off course over rocks?

 

[Ripley]

...What if it gets blown off course over rocks?

What if it smashes and destroys the one and only form of life present on Mars??

...just kidding...
:lol:

 

[N_Molson]

but I'm trying to find out if the skycrane can do hazard avoidance.

The problem is that the payload should be the heaviest ever landed on Mars. So the airbag technique doesn't work. The other alternative would have been a descent stage under the rover. It would probably have meant a larger entry capsule, and it doesn't solve the problem : a landing over a rock would still have been possible. I think that the skycrane idea is to have a good visibility of the landing site and keep the ability to drop the rover on a specific spot until the very last moment. Also landing the rover on a platform could have lead to the situation of the rover being jammed on it, etc...

Let's hope that the weather will be good and that it won't land into a martian sandstorm (we have no martian weather forecast yet) !

Anyway, we will know soon : less than 2 days to go !

 

[Keatah]

Yes yes yes. But if there is a huge rock directly under the rover, can the skycrane detect that and slide to the side to a flat surface?

---------- Post added at 04:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 AM ----------

On a different note, I think Planters Peanuts are the official snack to eat while watching the EDL ops.

 

[fausto]

For realtime curiosity position and datas click on this link:

http://www.livestream.com/orbiterlivemissions/

 

[Keatah]

To actually run the simulation on your system go here -- http://eyes.nasa.gov/index.html
And you can get real time simulation of all sorts of other Solar System stuff and spacecraft!

 

[orb]

News links from the last day:


NASA:

• What to Expect When Curiosity Starts Snapping Pictures
  
  
• Mars Tugging on Approaching NASA Rover Curiosity
  
  
• Explore a Room With a Mars View

NASA JPL:

• What to Expect When Curiosity Starts Snapping Pictures
  
  
• Mars Tugging on Approaching NASA Rover Curiosity
  
  
• Explore A Room With a Mars View

The Planetary Society Blog:

• Mars24 has been upgraded for Curiosity
  
  
• Curiosity landing minus two days

Universe Today:

• Curiosity Precisely on Course at T Minus 48 Hours till a ‘Priceless Asset’ Lands on Mars

Florida Today:

• NASA chooses landing site that really rocks
  Mars' Gale Crater carefully selected for its geology
  
  
• Rockledge engineer helped build Mars explorer's phone-home capability
  She waits for a late call from Curiosity
  
  
• Pink skies, water ice haze in forecast for Curiosity landing

SPACE.com:

• Mars Rover Curiosity Will Hunt for Life's Building Blocks
  
  
• What If Huge NASA Mars Rover Crashes Sunday Night?
  
  
• Weather on Mars Looks Great for Huge Rover Landing Sunday: NASA
  
  
• Future of Mars Exploration May Ride on NASA's Rover Landing

SpaceRef:

• Mars Is Tugging on Curiosity

Aviation Week:

• Moment of truth approaches for NASA's Mars mission
  
  
• On Target

Discovery News:

• Curiosity Steps Up Search for Alien Life on Mars

 

[Urwumpe]

I'm sure it will go well, but I'm trying to find out if the skycrane can do hazard avoidance. What if it gets blown off course over rocks?

That is why there is a landing ellipse. That ellipse includes wind drift. Did you already read how big the revised landing ellipse is?

 

[Gadfly]

Re: Hazard Avoidance

My understanding (based on answer to question earlier today at press conference held by team members) is the rocket vehicle has no hazard avoidance capability; area inside the landing ellipse is believed to represent acceptably low risk of landing on an obstacle with a preprogrammed lat/long landing aim point.

 

[orbitingpluto]

On a different note, I think Planters Peanuts are the official snack to eat while watching the EDL ops.

It's a tradition dating back to the days of Ranger. Whether or not it's lucky I don't know, but for me I think it is handy to have some peanuts to open and eat during tense bits. Something to do, you know.

 

[Keatah]

My understanding (based on answer to question earlier today at press conference held by team members) is the rocket vehicle has no hazard avoidance capability; area inside the landing ellipse is believed to represent acceptably low risk of landing on an obstacle with a preprogrammed lat/long landing aim point.

I'm under the impression that's the deal.

It's a tradition dating back to the days of Ranger. Whether or not it's lucky I don't know, but for me I think it is handy to have some peanuts to open and eat during tense bits. Something to do, you know.

Lucky?? Mmm.. The hand was frozen at T minus-zero. If the vehicle was built correctly it will work. I gotta remember to get more peanuts for tomorrow night. I've got some pistachios, but not enough me thinks.

That is why there is a landing ellipse. That ellipse includes wind drift. Did you already read how big the revised landing ellipse is?

No not yet, did they shrink it s'more?

 

[MattBaker]

Originally the landing ellipse was 20x25 kilometers, the revised one is 20x7 kilometers.
Picture (don't want to include it directly since it's quite big): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/658682main_pia15686_full.jpg

For comparison: The MER's landing ellipse was 150x20 kilometers

 

[Keatah]

Ohh yes. I saw that graphic just the other day.

---------- Post added at 01:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------

Mars24 clock app
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/08032042-mars24-version-7.html
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/

 

[Mikeol1987]

Come on Curiosity!

Hello all, hope we're all getting ready for the landing! I've already got my eyes on the solar system simulation running so I can keep track of where we're at, I have to stay up late tonight as I'm GMT But I'm making it into a little event, hoping to photograph the mars 'triangle' later tonight too.

-Main concern for landing-
Parachute Failure within its first stage

 

[fraxudemspas]

Hello all, hope we're all getting ready for the landing! I've already got my eyes on the solar system simulation running so I can keep track of where we're at, I have to stay up late tonight as I'm GMT But I'm making it into a little event, hoping to photograph the mars 'triangle' later tonight too.

-Main concern for landing-
Parachute Failure within its first stage

Staying up late? More like not sleeping, the landing is 7:31 CEST (5:31 UTC). I'm hoping to catch the whole coverage, so stocking up on coffee as we speak.

 

[Ripley]

I'll be surely late at work tomorrow.
Luckily I am UTC+2 here and I use to wake up at 7am anyway...I'll set my wakeup ring at 6:30.