All Systems Are Go After Curiosity Rover's Successful Launch

To some sense, the US still is better than Russian Technology. HAHAHA >:D

In Soviet Russia,
Mars Spacecraft
orbit You.

" Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." Albert Einstein

WARNING, Starchild, don't turn this Topic in the wrong direction that's not what it is about.

And If its me you're asking, which is better. In some aspects yes and in other aspects definetly NO! Each have their strength's.

On the Curiosity mission, though, there is more than enough chance for everything to go wrong, the landing procedure has never before been tried and take my word for it, something _WILL_ not go as expected somewhere. Whether it is going to be a mission breaking flaw or a temporary minor setback, its pretty much down to luck which one you get. As of now the Russians bit the hard one.

IMO, the US space program is still greater than any other agency in the world; it just costs more to operate (red tape). The perception I get is that NASA seems to operate under a finer tooth comb and "seem" to make less mistakes (not to say that there haven't been some big ones made), but that could just be a matter of perception.

It's exciting to see this mission get underway, but as RG-5 points out, this take off is the easy part (which is funny to say) as the arrival and safe landing is by far the more difficult. I too believe something will go wrong on the mission, but hope they are all minor issues that can be corrected. I'm actually excited to see how NASA plans to pull the landing off since this isn't something that's done every day (never). Hopefully, this opens the door for many more landings like these. We'll know in 9 months. :)

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In space, no one can hear a tree fall in the forest.

If we could just make the decision there is zero life on Mars. That would give us the freedom to plant some super algae type organism on Mars and get that oxygen atmosphere being made.

It is very possible that Mars is 99.95 void of life and it may take 1000 years of searching to find that little crumb of bacteria, stuck in the most perfect situation on Mars to be life there.

I prefer changing the whole place into a usable planet second GAIA.

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I am just so Qurious!

I think perhaps we are all missing the point about Space. Instead of "the US" launched a new mission to Mars, why not "humans succeeded in" launching a new probe to Mars?

I mean are we saying there were no international scientists on the project? Did we not benefit from breakthroughs made in other countries? Let’s leave the nationalism in the dustbin of history where it belongs and get on with exploring space!

i bet the purpose of this mission is to deliver "goods" to stranded alien life forms stuck on mars. maybe food and weapons.

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The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.

- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri

I agree with you Amoderate 100%. It’s silly to segment achievements to countries when everyone is to benefit. Imagine the kind of space program that would exist if there were no borders or governments in general involved. United Federation of Planets Time!

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In space, no one can hear a tree fall in the forest.

it is much easier to land on mars than earth because of the reduced gravity, not sure how the thinner atmosphere will help or hinder but i think help as less heat shielding should be needed, go NASA and SpaceX! the others too, cheers

Truer words of wisdom have never been spoken, quasiplasma. I am exteemely excited about all the new features. And the size of a sedan? WAY TO GO, Curiosity.