Amazing Video: Mars Rover Curiosity's Landing Will Be "Seven Minutes of Terror"

What becomes of the now useless descent portion? Does it still perform a controlled landing of its own or just crashes off to the side?

I would assume it just crashes itself a safe distance away once it has delivered its payload.

wow the Amazing

Yes, the Sky Crane will crash at a safe distance from the rover.

Technically it's very impressive and cool. BUT we're worrying about space junk that circles the Earth, now we're littering Mars too.

I do not think the authors use of the adjective „super dramatic“ properly describes this video. I would substitute the word “over” for “super”.

I liked hearing about the challenges of the mission and the engineering hurdles that are being overcome. The video was nice however the tone of the commentary did not make it enjoyable for me.

But…I will be watching the news updates on 5 August.

I wonder what microbes from Earth we are introducing into the Martin enviroment. Sure, NASA will provide a long list of how they sterilize these devices, but those little critters sure like to get in the cracks and survive anyways.

It is a good question of what happens to the rocket landing vehicle, once it drops its load of the lander. Does it land safely some where else and is used in some good funcitional way, like a weather station or communications relay?

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Every day is a new day!

The only thing that is rubbing me the wrong way is the elevator system.

They are hovering a spacecraft (difficult to do) and lowering the rover (in between flaming jets) in order to reduce dust on the rover.

Why not put the rover in a box, land the spacecraft relatively gently (you can pad the box), and have the box lift up from one side? As the box lifts open, the dust will slide off of it.

If they feel confident in the ability to hover, then this should be a piece of cake. If it isn't a piece of cake, then maybe hovering is a bit ambitious.

Its additional "dead" weight. I say go back to the airbag. No need for the weight and cost of a hover vehicle and the fuel it needs, if it's sole purpose if to hove and then die/crash after it's done.

A while back I watch a very cool video from NASA or the asent of the space shuttle with cameras on the rocket boosters. It would be very cool if we get a video feed of this decent on Mars. If the launche does happen successfully, it would be so cool to see it happen - WoWzers!

It doesnt matter to me, if the video id delayed.

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Every day is a new day!

its fine. it will most likely land in one of mars hidden oceans. or in one of its giants forests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw9kNhXrNUI

"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." -Morpheus

JediMindset,
Isn't a ocean or a forest, realitive to the size of the intelligent life form living in it. Our lander might dwarf the forest or ocean, yet still what you say, might be true anyways, if we only learn to communicate to the itty bitty tinnie Martins.

They are there. They are just really really small! ;)

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Every day is a new day!

@Robot,

or they might just exist in another dimension that we can not perceive. but they are there or where. nasa just doesnt want to admit it.

"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." -Morpheus

JediMindset,
Within your own life force, should you be capable to swim from one edge of the water to another, then it is a pond, said the sea turte. It is only humans, with their many boats and limited life force to call an ocean.

To understand and see the Martins, we must see life from their perpective and then we will find them and begin to know them.

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Every day is a new day!

@Robot,

who exactly are the "Martins"? are you referring to Steve Martins family?

"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." -Morpheus

JediMindset,
The Martins were the first family to visit Earth from the plant Mars and yes they are Martians. They chose the name Martins to blend with human society. Another trait they use in blending with society is comedy. So yes, it is very possible that Steve Martian is in fact from Mars.

To answer you question, I was not speakina about the Steve Martins family orginally, but simply made a typ-o before. I hope my additional information helps now.

@robot,

lol thanks for the info. and the clear up. i love the movie The Jerk.

"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." -Morpheus

bezford-has anyone put odds on everything going to plan?i wander what my bookies will offer?

bezford-why didnt they just build the thing like a glider shape with wings and just fly it gradualy losing height and speed until it lands comfortably then just drive the rover out safely and intact?

@antaro There is a postive to every negative, and a negative to every positive. In this case, comparing the vast size of the universe to the landing on mars, I think there is more positive here.