Author Topic: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?  (Read 4203 times)

Offline Wisi

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Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« on: 11/14/2006 04:36 pm »
This is from NASAs Mars Science Laboratory Homepage:

"The final landing site selection for Mars Science Laboratory is planned for June 2009. The selection process is scheduled to begin in June 2006, when Mars scientists from around the world are slated to attend a workshop to compile a list of 100 potential landing sites."

Seems to be a bit outdated... does anybody know about the lates news on NASAs next mars rover?

Offline Jim

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Re: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« Reply #1 on: 11/14/2006 05:11 pm »
Define news.  The spacecraft is in design and LV integration is progessing

Offline Wisi

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Re: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« Reply #2 on: 11/14/2006 05:24 pm »
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Jim - 14/11/2006  6:54 PM

Define news.  The spacecraft is in design and LV integration is progessing

What about landing site selection? Are they still on track for a lanch in Fall 2009?

Offline Jim

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Re: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« Reply #3 on: 11/14/2006 11:04 pm »
If it isn't on track for Fall 2009 then it can't fly until Winter 2011.  Of course, it is on track.  The landing site blurb is still accurate.  There won't be any real news until 2009

Offline simonbp

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Re: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« Reply #4 on: 11/16/2006 12:42 pm »
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Wisi - 14/11/2006  12:07 PM

What about landing site selection? Are they still on track for a lanch in Fall 2009?

What they are waiting for is MRO to complete its primary mapping mission and see if any sites pop out as interesting. As usual, sedimentary sites are the target (most of which are in the northern hemisphere) and both the EDL and power source allow a very broad latitude range. MSL also has a pretty long transverse range, so if they find two sites near each other, that could be it...

Phoenix even still doesn't know where they are going to land, as their reference site turned out (thanks to MRO's Hirise camera) to not be a open plain, but rather a open plain full of mars-lander-sized boulders.... Apollo 11, anyone?

Simon ;)

Offline jimvela

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Re: Mars Science Laboratory - Updates?
« Reply #5 on: 11/16/2006 04:52 pm »
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Jim - 14/11/2006  4:47 PM

If it isn't on track for Fall 2009 then it can't fly until Winter 2011.  Of course, it is on track.  The landing site blurb is still accurate.  There won't be any real news until 2009

There are plenty of subcontractors building things like mad, and JPL is furiously working on MSL.  
There isn't much 'news' at this point, just lots of hard work going on.

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