Plans for the invasion begin (Mars probe)

Zed Snardbody · Post by **Zed Snardbody** » 2005-08-12 01:43pm

NASA probe blasts off for Mars

Wired News wrote:
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - An Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday to dispatch a sophisticated NASA science probe on a journey to look for water on Mars.

After two days of delays due to minor technical concerns, the 188-foot (57-meter) Atlas 5 booster, built by Lockheed Martin, blasted off its seaside launch pad on time at 7:43 a.m. (1143 GMT) and soared into clear skies over the Atlantic Ocean.

"What a difference a day makes," said NASA launch manager Chuck Dovale. "It couldn't have been any smoother."

Nestled in a protective cargo hold perched on the rocket's nose was the 4,796-pound (2,180 kg) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, also built by Lockheed Martin.

The spacecraft's primary goal is to continue the search for evidence showing how long Mars had water, which scientists believe is key to learning if life ever existed on Mars.

When the satellite arrives in Mars seven months from now, it will join two other U.S. orbiters, Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey, Europe's Mars Express spacecraft and the twin robot rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2005-08-12 01:51pm

no we really know what the truth is.

big oil has just figured out that those fossilized shrimp can only mean one thing!

"Space Oil!!!"

Erik von Nein · Post by **Erik von Nein** » 2005-08-12 08:08pm

Ah, sweet! There's going to be three of those little guys running around there? It's gonna be like a robot party there, soon!

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-08-12 08:21pm

You know, I hope they mounted speakers on the little robo-probes and that the controllers will randomly shout: "ULLA!"

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-08-12 09:17pm

Erik von Nein wrote:Ah, sweet! There's going to be three of those little guys running around there? It's gonna be like a robot party there, soon!

I'm still trying to get over the fact that Spirit and Opportunity are still operational after more than a year.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2005-08-13 01:41am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
Erik von Nein wrote:Ah, sweet! There's going to be three of those little guys running around there? It's gonna be like a robot party there, soon!
I'm still trying to get over the fact that Spirit and Opportunity are still operational after more than a year.

I have a feeling we will see more and more craft exceeding their life expantency as time goes along. Not only those two probes but also look at Deep Space 1 and others.

Erik von Nein · Post by **Erik von Nein** » 2005-08-13 03:33am

dragon wrote:I have a feeling we will see more and more craft exceeding their life expantency as time goes along. Not only those two probes but also look at Deep Space 1 and others.

Bah. They just pulled a Scotty on us and purposely mis-stated their expected life-spans. They knew very well they'd last this long, they just wanted to look like miracle workers.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2005-08-13 05:12am

Erik von Nein wrote:
dragon wrote:I have a feeling we will see more and more craft exceeding their life expantency as time goes along. Not only those two probes but also look at Deep Space 1 and others.
Bah. They just pulled a Scotty on us and purposely mis-stated their expected life-spans. They knew very well they'd last this long, they just wanted to look like miracle workers.

Why not I would but then I am an engineer at heart studying management.