One more thing to notice is that the Mars images released by ISRO so far are upside-down, any specific reason for that?
Spacecraft specialists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are getting ready to uplink the commands and switch on two more scientific payloads on India’s spacecraft to Mars on Saturday, according to V. Kesava Raju, Mission Director, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).
The two scientific instruments that will become operational on Saturday are the Methane Sensor for Mars and the Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer.
Data would be segregated, processed and disseminated to the scientific community. ISSDC would publish the data on its website
On Sunday, another instrument, called Lyman Alpha Photometer, aboard the orbiter would be switched on
Spacecraft don't have to obey your prejudiced north-up preconceptions of correct maps!
Quote from: NovaSilisko on 09/26/2014 10:04 pmSpacecraft don't have to obey your prejudiced north-up preconceptions of correct maps! Playing to the galleries, by making comments like these will earn you lot of clap, and pat yourself at your back all by yourself.. Images are downloaded, studied, processed and then if required then only released to the public... nobody questioning anything about satellite and everybody knows these can be up or down or left or right, these images are not directly posted to the web by the Satellites. It is the image processed and released by we humans that is being questioned here.. if you still want to proceed with my prejudice about satellites.. then carry on I have no further comments to make.
Quote from: Gaganaut on 09/27/2014 02:15 amQuote from: NovaSilisko on 09/26/2014 10:04 pmSpacecraft don't have to obey your prejudiced north-up preconceptions of correct maps! Playing to the galleries, by making comments like these will earn you lot of clap, and pat yourself at your back all by yourself.. Images are downloaded, studied, processed and then if required then only released to the public... nobody questioning anything about satellite and everybody knows these can be up or down or left or right, these images are not directly posted to the web by the Satellites. It is the image processed and released by we humans that is being questioned here.. if you still want to proceed with my prejudice about satellites.. then carry on I have no further comments to make.Woah, woah, I was just making a joke. I'm just pointing out how in space there's really no "up" or "down", and that the whole "the images are upside down" thing is really just a result of the common cultural view of north as "up" on maps. I'm not trying to offend
Quote from: NovaSilisko on 09/26/2014 10:04 pmSpacecraft don't have to obey your prejudiced north-up preconceptions of correct maps! Playing to the galleries, by making comments like these will earn you lot of clap, and pat yourself at your back all by yourself. ...
1) Okay, we get it — India's Mars Orbiter Mission was spectacularly cheap, costing less than the entire budget of the Hollywood movie Gravity. But is this really what we —and India — should be focusing on?2) No doubt, this is a stunning achievement for India. ...3) "Our program stands out as the most cost-effective," noted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in June. "There is this story of our Mars mission costing less than the Hollywood movie Gravity... Our scientists have shown the world a new paradigm of engineering and the power of imagination."4) Clearly, India is doing something right, and they deserve to be commended...5) First, accounting standards are not the same across agencies such as ISRO and, say, [just to pick a USG Agency at random] NASA ...6) The "cheapness" was forced upon ISRO because of earlier failures. ...This is just the beginning... "That pay-off is long-term, and it cannot be easily quantified. But it is huge."
On NPR this morning, they suggested that an Indian engineer makes about $1K per month, compared to the US engineer at $10K per month. The fact of the matter is that when an Indian engineers sez "F=ma", it has the same value as when an American engineer sez "F=ma".
Quote from: JohnFornaro on 09/27/2014 01:24 pmOn NPR this morning, they suggested that an Indian engineer makes about $1K per month, compared to the US engineer at $10K per month. The fact of the matter is that when an Indian engineers sez "F=ma", it has the same value as when an American engineer sez "F=ma".A few flaws in your responses, but this one stands out the most (even though there are some qualitative reasonings later).We can all say F=ma, they even teach us the meaning in schools.It's how one applies it, the experience to work it effectively, cheaply, and safely, and to bring about the desired (or expected) outcome that really matters.
It's been mentioned that some previous Mars missions have also used methane sensors - does anyone have any links to sensory-data-based maps generated from them?
Quote from: sanman on 09/28/2014 01:50 amIt's been mentioned that some previous Mars missions have also used methane sensors - does anyone have any links to sensory-data-based maps generated from them? No previous orbiter mission had sensors specifically intended to detect methane. The only claimed detection from a spacecraft was ESA's Mars express PFS. See http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063310002138 (pdf from ESA at ftp://ssols01.esac.esa.int/pub/workshops/09_MEX_VEX_DW_June_2011/PFS/EXTRA_MATERIAL_WORKSHOP/PAPERS_PFS/PAPERS_ON_CH4/Geminale_2011.pdf)There were also some claimed detections from ground based telescopes, you can find references in that paper.By far the most sensitive methane detector sent to Mars is Curiosity's SAM. The non-detection by SAM casts significant doubt on the previous detections. While the claim has been made that methane is variable in time and location, the expected lifetime and mixing of methane in Mars atmosphere would make it difficult to reconcile the previous reported levels with the SAM results. Of course, planetary science is pretty good at throwing curve balls...It's worth noting that MOM's methane sensor was manifested before the SAM results.
Ready for Jan 2016?