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#320 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 15:00
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Nervous room!
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#321 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 15:08
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El Presidente. "We're all very excited. We were wondering if you have found Martians.
"Captured the imagination of 10s of millions of people. How you got on Mars was incredibly impressive. The 500,000 lines of code working. It's really mind boggling the way you got that landing sequence to work."
Awww, Adam looked overjoyed when he had his name read out!
"Your hard work is now paying dividends. Curiosity will lay the foundations for more ambitious mission with humans."
Mohawk guy reference! President is considering one himself.
"Does sound like NASA has come a long way from the white shirts. NASA is cooler nowadays."
STEM references. Inspiring kids - want to be a part of a Mars mission, maybe the first Mars astronaut.
More names getting mentioned. And thanks the international partners for contributing to the instrumentation.
"You've made is all proud and are an example of American ingenuity".
Notes he will protect the investment.
Wants to know when they do contact Martians. Even if they are just microbes
"You've already inspired us but I can't wait for the photos to come back. Congratulations and keep up the great work."
That was good!
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#322 by ChrisC on 13 Aug, 2012 15:11
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Thanks for the coverage, Chris B.! I just barely missed it aaaaaargh ....
Will look forward to the replays/online availability shortly.Is there any update on how the software upgrade is progressing?
Nope, not a peep. I've been checking Ben Cichy's Twitter feed and he's saying nothing. He did answer a softball question a couple hours ago there so it's not like he's buried in a crisis or anything, so I'm not really worried. But I expect we'll hear something this afternoon as they come off their work shift.
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#323 by Rocket Science on 13 Aug, 2012 15:12
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That was a “well-earned” pat on the back.
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#324 by robertross on 13 Aug, 2012 15:13
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Thanks for the coverage, Chris B.! I just barely missed it aaaaaargh ....
Will look forward to the replays/online availability shortly.
Ditto & same here.
A good plug for NASA is always welcomed (as is continued funding)
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#325 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 15:14
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Thanks for the coverage, Chris B.! I just barely missed it aaaaaargh ....
Will look forward to the replays/online availability shortly.
Thanks and yep - John44 will have it, and NASA TV's bound to put it on youtube soon.
Was nice and casual, but got the main points in. No crazy promises and no silly "2035s" dates, but a big reference to human missions. Gave the media a headline with the Martians (tempted to use that myself).
Perfect really!
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#326 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 16:27
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Video is up.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=150373681
Presser in 30 mins if they are still doing the 10am local presser. -
#327 by dsmillman on 13 Aug, 2012 16:35
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Video is up.
At the Friday (8/10) briefing it was stated that there was no set date for the next briefing.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=150373681
Presser in 30 mins if they are still doing the 10am local presser. -
#328 by apace on 13 Aug, 2012 16:36
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Is there some transcript of this phone call? The phone line quality was not the best for non-native speakers like me ;-)
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#329 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 16:59
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Video is up.
At the Friday (8/10) briefing it was stated that there was no set date for the next briefing.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=150373681
Presser in 30 mins if they are still doing the 10am local presser.
Ah, I missed that. And yes, no presser today.
Well I think I'll write up where we are and use the President's quotes later. -
#330 by jumpjack on 13 Aug, 2012 17:19
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What is the schedule for next conferences?
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#331 by Chris Bergin on 13 Aug, 2012 17:21
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What is the schedule for next conferences?
We don't know yet. -
#332 by ChrisC on 13 Aug, 2012 17:21
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What is the schedule for next conferences?
Nothing posted yet. I think they are waiting until they are through the software overhaul (today/tomorrow-ish) before announcing a forward plan. When it's made public (or even leaked) you'll hear it here
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#333 by Sparky on 13 Aug, 2012 19:18
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Are we going there? IT's just between us and Mount Sharp!
I have a potentially silly question regarding this gif: Is the light coming from top or the bottom of the image? I am having trouble telling if I am looking at a ridge surrounded by crater like-depressions, or a valley flanked by raised mounds to either side. I've managed to trick my eyes into seeing both versions recently.
Details:
http://jumpjack.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/un-paio-di-posti-interessanti-da-andare-a-vedere-su-marte/ -
#334 by jnc on 13 Aug, 2012 20:10
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Is the light coming from top or the bottom of the image? I am having trouble telling if I am looking at a ridge surrounded by crater like-depressions, or a valley flanked by raised mounds to either side.
Well, I'm pretty sure the terrain at the top of the image is higher than that at the bottom (given that the bottom seems to be a classic braided alluvial plain, almost certainly created by runoff). And the large channel in the middle of that braided runoff would seem to source from the 'ridge or valley' thing, which would make it a valley.
Noel
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#335 by Lars_J on 13 Aug, 2012 20:46
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Is the light coming from top or the bottom of the image? I am having trouble telling if I am looking at a ridge surrounded by crater like-depressions, or a valley flanked by raised mounds to either side.
Well, I'm pretty sure the terrain at the top of the image is higher than that at the bottom (given that the bottom seems to be a classic braided alluvial plain, almost certainly created by runoff). And the large channel in the middle of that braided runoff would seem to source from the 'ridge or valley' thing, which would make it a valley.
Noel
No, the top of the image is the 'flat' type of terrain in the crater floor, then comes the darkest area which appears to be the lowest point in the crater. Then - moving down - the elevation increases until the base of 'mount sharp' starts at the bottom third of the images.
I could be wrong, but that's how I read the image based on other wider shots of the crater. -
#336 by Hungry4info3 on 13 Aug, 2012 20:54
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You're correct. The bottom of the image is the mountain we came for.
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#337 by jnc on 13 Aug, 2012 21:03
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No, the top of the image is the 'flat' type of terrain in the crater floor, then comes the darkest area which appears to be the lowest point in the crater. Then - moving down - the elevation increases until the base of 'mount sharp' starts at the bottom third of the images.
Hmm. Could be. Odd that the braided alluvial formation has produced that deep channel leading to the cut, but on the high side of the cut, though. Well, I suppose it's possible. Look like maybe water came around both sides of the large rock at the lower right, and joined into that channel?
I think we both agree that the 'ridge or valley' feature is a valley, though, right (to answer the OP's question)? Seems to have remarkably steep (i.e. near vertical) sides, at least from what I see in the photo.
Noel
PS: I'm speaking of the narrow feature that runs from top to bottom through the ridge which runs sideways across the image, in the middle of the image. I assume that's what the OP was asking about, although now that I think about it, they could have been asking about the ridge which runs from side to side (asking if that was a ridge, or valley).
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#338 by Lars_J on 13 Aug, 2012 21:14
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'mount sharp' starts at the bottom third of the images.
No, the top of the image is the 'flat' type of terrain in the crater floor, then comes the darkest area which appears to be the lowest point in the crater. Then - moving down - the elevation increases until the base of
Hmm. Could be. Odd that the braided alluvial formation has produced that deep channel leading to the cut, but on the high side of the cut, though. Well, I suppose it's possible. Look like maybe water came around both sides of the large rock at the lower right, and joined into that channel?
I think we both agree that the 'ridge or valley' feature is a valley, though, right (to answer the OP's question)? Seems to have remarkably steep (i.e. near vertical) sides, at least from what I see in the photo.
Keep in mind that the animated GIF is exaggerating the vertical differences.
Anyway, to prove that the bottom 3rd is indeed the base of Mount Sharp, here is a wider image: (the center part of this image covers the same area as the animated GIF)
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#339 by clongton on 13 Aug, 2012 22:17
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That was exactly my point for bringing up extended missions. I understand about the funding constraints, I really do, but Blackstar's statement is why I believe that lander and rover designers need to think beyond the DRM for their spacecraft and very deliberately do whatever they can when designing for the DRM to be able to make their spacecraft last as long as humanly possible.
No, you don't. The funding constraints and thinking beyond the design requirements are mutually exclusive and actually the opposite happens. Most of the time when they find excessive margin, it is redesigned to save money.
P.S. there are no DRM for one of a kind spacecraft
Yes I do. I guess you missed my post above where I ceded the point. As for your comment on DRM's you know perfectly well what I meant.
