140kg of fuel was left over. Touchdown speed reported by spacecraft was .75m/s which was intended velocity. But will take more analysis to get true velocity.
If the hydrazine was going to be a possible issue why didn't they just pre-command the descent stage to expend all prop and crash ballistically?
Quote from: Mattoco on 08/06/2012 07:55 amRear hazcam: some dust on lens but otherwise alright and survived pyro event. A ridge on the horizon (crater rim?), looking into sun causing some saturation on the image.Would that lens dust be from blowing the cover too early, or just the blowing itself?
Rear hazcam: some dust on lens but otherwise alright and survived pyro event. A ridge on the horizon (crater rim?), looking into sun causing some saturation on the image.
If pyros look like pyros, they're probably oversized. The animation clearly shows a spring on the cover, but it was likely restrained by some sort of catch severed by a pyro. It could alternatively have been solenoid released like a pop-up flash on a camera, but usually a pyro is the lightest, simplest, and most reliable way. It could be as simple as thin wire coated in a little bit of powder that creates enough gas pressure to push a pin out of a slot or burns through a severable link.
Quote from: racshot65 on 08/06/2012 03:30 pmNathan Moeller has just tweeted this:https://twitter.com/AstroN8/status/232496228464750592/photo/1/largeWOW. That's pretty freaking amazing right there, on so many levels.
Nathan Moeller has just tweeted this:https://twitter.com/AstroN8/status/232496228464750592/photo/1/largeWOW.
Well, since I was the cognizant engineer on these now-world-famous dust covers, I guess I can stop lurking and talk about them a little bit.
I was the cognizant engineer on these now-world-famous dust covers, I guess I can stop lurking and talk about them a little bit.
Quote from: Herb Schaltegger on 08/06/2012 03:34 pmQuote from: racshot65 on 08/06/2012 03:30 pmNathan Moeller has just tweeted this:https://twitter.com/AstroN8/status/232496228464750592/photo/1/largeWOW. That's pretty freaking amazing right there, on so many levels.Yes indeed. The timing, the visual acuity. Knowing where to look. Pretty amazing.
This is an amazing image! I've always wished for external images of missions; they're rare. I think video of the entire landing sequence could have been possible too: just before landing (a min. or so?) shoot out a small camera that embeds or otherwise lands into the soil. Then it tracks and records video--imagine seeing the whole thing in HD. Would have been incredible, not to mention extremely useful for capturing general public interest...
Any chance we will get to see that video?