What’s new in Space!

So very tired of politics.  So, I’m taking a break from that bantering.

Now, On to something far more fascinating: Space!  Lots of things going on in the next few months so lets get to one of them now.

There is a new show that will be showing on NatGeo this Sunday (11/02/08) at 8pm EST.  It’s called Five Years on Mars.  It chronicles the adventures of two tiny rovers that have been present, on Mars, for a combined 10 years (between the two of them).  They hold a special place in my heart since they were both launched the year my first son was born.  What is amazing about this?

They were sent to Mars on a 90-day mission, but almost five years later the rovers Spirit and Opportunity have traveled farther, seen more, and survived longer than anyone imagined possible, earning a place among the most prolific explorers in history.

These rovers were supposed to last 90 days or thereabouts.  That’s all that was required of them.  Hubble is to deep space as these rovers are to Mars.  That is of course in conjunction with  thr MRO (Mars Recon Observatory).  Having far exceeded their lifespan, Opportunity and Spirit have provided simply invaluable data about the red planet.

Leaving on a Delta II never to return to Earth again, these tiny ambassadors of Earth made the months long journey to endure the loneliest of missions.  In a place where most or all life would perish, the little robots pressed on.  Through a barrage of technical difficulties they pressed on, still.  They are still pressing on, to this day.  How long until they are rendered frozen by the inhospitable frozen desert?  I can only guess.

Perhaps one day, in the distant future, when man begins his travels to Mars, our paths with these rovers will cross again.  Imagine coming face to face with history.  Something our distant future ancestors will have to remind them of how far humanity has come.

 

 Five Years on Mars: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The order of the Phoenix

Ok, J.K. please don’t sue me for that reference

I’m talking about the Phoenix lander ladies and gents.  The first spacecraft to ever land in the arctic circle of Mars.  Also, it’s the first spacecraft to land the way it did in 32 years (Viking I and Viking II).

I left a poolparty to go and witness this historic event.  I had another reason for leaving the party [see previous post].  This is my superbowl/world series/stanley cup/etc.  It’s Humans vs. Mars and prior to Sunday night, Mars was outdoing us.  The failure rate of missions was 55%.  It is now 50%, so we’re tied with Mars!

I started watching right about 6pm and the commentary didn’t start until around 6:30pm EDT.  Some swift impromptu interviews were done with some of the project leads and so forth.  Man, these guys looked like they could chew through nails.  They were so nervous, particularly Barry Goldstein, the project manager (I think).  Every event from cruise stage separation onward was a major event.

At 14 minutes to land the cruise stage separated.  7 minutes was atmospheric entry which was to take away the energy of it’s 420 million mile journey.  After a few minutes of that the craft went from 12,000mph or so around 1100mph.  The main parachute would deply and slow the craft to around 120mph.  At around 30 seconds to land the craft separated from it’s backshell and freefell for about 2 seconds.  The 12 thrusters kicked in after that and would pulse the rest of the way down until the lander touched down at around 5mph.

Just to put this into perspective, a few numbers.  The accuracy of this event is 1 in 10,000,000.  You’d be shooting an arrow from Dodger Stadium and hitting home plate at Wrigley Field.

Watching these guys made it look easy but what they did was incredibly difficult to do.  You’re launching a projectile from a moving target in space to hit another moving target in space.  These moving targets are also rotating on an axis.  That projectile has to land with little more than a thud after the hundreds of millions of miles it has traveled.  Everything has to go right in those last few minutes and especially last few seconds.

These are are the kinds of things that are the pinnacle of human abilities and achievement.

I watched the EDL replay twice.  EDL = Entry Descent and Landing.

I am nerd; hear me utter a loud, deep, prolonged sound of rage!

Learn more here.  They have pretty pictures too!

Regarding mission failures

Invaders From Mars (if we ever make it that far)

Just imagine this scenario:

We send man to Mars.  We send more men to Mars.  We begin to colonize Mars.  We purposely raise the temperature of Mars to increase atmospheric pressure and free up frozen water.  We begin to terraform the planet.  The planet is now taking on a familiar Earth like appearance after several hundred years.  Humans are genetically altering themselves to live in a 1/3 gravity lower pressure environment.  Humans aren’t so human anymore and can now survive with no pressure suit and only a breathing mask.  People born on Mars are now Martians.  Fewer Earthlings make the trip.  Mars grows in population.  Earth continues to snub Mars.  Relations are strained and tensions are high.  Mars is running out of Earth-only life sustaining resources.  Martians invade Earth!

It’s like rewinding back from the future!  Ok it’s far fetched but it’s theoretically possible that one day Martians (our descendents) will invade Earth for some reason.