Tag Archives: Curiosity rover

Ground squirrel spotted on Mars

Posted on by at 11:02 am

Check this out:

Here is a static picture released by NASA that you can download in a large size to see clearly.

So, I can think of three options to explain this. First, NASA secretly sent a round tailed ground squirrel to Mars on the Curiosity rover and then released it there. Second, the Curiosity rover is not on Mars at all and the entire Mars lander program is fake, something filmed the Mojave Desert (where the ground squirrel is native), and this is proof that the Mars program is bogus. Third, it is nothing but a flippin’ rock (on Mars) with a couple of shadows that the human mind desperately tries to characterize as familiar.

You can probably guess my vote.

Have an iPhone, go to Mars

Posted on by at 9:14 am

If you have an iPhone, in Safari click this link. It will load the detail panorama image sent by the Curiosity rover last week.

When the image fully loads, hold your iPhone up in front of your face. If you turn, or tilt the phone up or down, the image will move and you can virtually scan the full view of the landing site. You can even pinch to zoom in and out. This works because of the gyroscope built into the iPhone.

Very cool.

(via TUAW)

Curiosity landing [updated]

Posted on by at 6:47 pm

The new Mars rover Curiosity will land Sunday nigh/early Monday morning on Mars. If you are interested in following the landing, like me, here is a good summary of the landing process:

And here are some links to follow the event live, via Boing Boing:

  • There will be live broadcasts from JPL streatmed on NASA TV and with live chat via NASA TV. JPL will carry that feed with a live, moderated Web chat at ustream.tv/NASAJPL.
  • Landing night broadcasts start 8:30 p.m. PT, Sunday August 5. Again, NASA TV and with live chat at ustream.tv/NASAJPL. Those will go till the wee small hours of Sunday.
  • Eyes on the Solar System computer simulation of entry, descent and landing allows you to hop on board the rover and see what she sees during landing. You can pause time, speed up, slow down, and check out all the parts of the spacecraft. On landing night, there will be a shortcut button that lets you watch a live simulation of what’s slated to happen at Mars.
  • The Curiosity rover will be live-tweeting the entry, descent and landing process via @MarsCuriosity. JPL will also be sharing news from mission control via @NASAJPL.

Update:  You can find your local time of the scheduled landing here.