Spirit's First Mars Images 406
An anonymous reader writes "First panoramic and overhead polar views of Mars, a quarter billion miles away are available. Some spectacular examples and accompanying commentaries are at NASA's Astrobiology Magazine, and JPL."
first panoramic (Score:5, Funny)
Re:first panoramic (Score:2)
Wasn't supposed to be the red planet? eh? this is eh, like, a purple planet.
Re:first panoramic (Score:4, Funny)
Awe Inspiring (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Awe Inspiring (Score:2, Interesting)
O'Keefe: I'm told in a golf analogy, that landing on Mars is a hole-in-one, from Paris to Tokyo.
Good work all round!
Re:Awe Inspiring (Score:4, Insightful)
But in other ways its very different, like you can't alter the golfballs course half way over the atlantic but you can adjust the course of a marse probe a bit.
Jeroen
Re:Awe Inspiring (Score:2)
--Joey
Awe man... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Awe man... (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.changestorm.com/mars/
Re:Awe man... (Score:3, Funny)
Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hey! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Hey! (Score:2)
It would be cool though
--Joey
Re:Yeah, but we don't really know... (Score:2)
Okay, I'm going to go think of another stupid idea...
Camera Details (Score:5, Informative)
Too Bad... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Too Bad... (Score:3, Interesting)
Remember all the noise the Greens made when Cassini was launched?
Re:Camera Details (Score:2, Informative)
The blowups. (Score:2)
Yep, it's black and white (Score:5, Informative)
Later on, they'll calibrate the camera using the color wheel on the sundial [cornell.edu] (yep another old technology that works ) and you'll get full color images that are very crisp. The color images will be composite images that are built from 3 separate shots of the same scene looking through different colored lenses.
Had they chosen instead to send a ccd that was wired like a digital camera, the images would have had 1/3rd the resolution they'll get this way.
Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2, Interesting)
The leftmost titlebar button resembles MacOS9, but the rightmost buttons don't.
(The image appears washed-out because it's a photo of a canvas.)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
It's most likely a result of the text-editor race with the pinko commies.
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:5, Informative)
In any case, their environment is absolutely not Windows. Any number of choice quotes could be derived from this fact, not the least of which is, "When it's worth 400 million dollars, don't use Windows to keep track of it." If only the Fortune 500 were so savvy!
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
If X Windows is not Windows then what is it? X Doors?
X Windows is Windows, it's just not MS Windows.
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:3, Informative)
X Windows is what everbody seems to incorrectly call the X Windowing System. If you want to abbreviate, call it X, or call it by the name of the server actually being used, e.g. XFree.
In the late 80s, when we said "it's using windows" with a small 'W', we'd mean it's using any WIMP (windows, icons, mouse & pointer) system, such as Mac OS, X, early
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
Re:Which desktop are they using in this image? (Score:2)
Better panaroma shot (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Better panaroma shot (Score:5, Informative)
Easy enough to make if you download the polar shot here [nasa.gov] and apply photoshop's Polar coordinates filter.
operators standing by for transmission (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Wait a sec... (Score:2)
Re:Wait a sec... (Score:2)
attempting to change history by spreading misinformation is a tragedy. you should be ashamed of yourself.
what's next? no jews were killed during ww2? there was no such thing as a berlin wall?
you disgust me.
Please... (Score:5, Funny)
XP's rolling hills are starting to get old... although I could isolate the red channel and tell people it was pictures from Mars, but I digress.
Those aren't the real pictures... (Score:5, Informative)
Nice Work (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Nice Work (Score:2, Funny)
Full Images (Score:3, Informative)
Great stuff so far! The landscape seems a lot flatter than where Pathfinder landed.
Yeah because... (Score:2, Funny)
The landscape seems a lot flatter than where Pathfinder landed.
This one was shot in a different studio.
that's no studio... (Score:5, Funny)
To all the NASA drivers: (Score:5, Interesting)
That is exactly what the driver of the last mission to Mars said when he hung up the rover on a rock and got it stuck.
I would hate to be the person who got the rover stuck on a rock with all those rocket scientists looking at me really steamed...
Re:To all the NASA drivers: (Score:5, Funny)
I would hate to be the person who got the rover stuck...
or the guy from AAA when NASA calls.All the images (Score:5, Informative)
This is a-w-e-s-o-m-e!! (Score:4, Interesting)
I am eagerly looking forward to the landing of Opportunity and the rover mission. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ESAs Beagle2. Chances are we can pick up a signal these days using Mars Express Orbiter!
The landing sequence for the MERs seemed quite complex and I was wondering if they were overdoing it! But I am deeply impressed now. Ever since I was a little boy I was dreaming about a real Rover on Mars and now I get two (hopefully). This is better than xmas! Thank you, Nasa! You rock!
Lispy
Re:This is a-w-e-s-o-m-e!! (Score:2)
Congratulations to the team (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Congratulations to the team (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Congratulations to the team (Score:5, Interesting)
Mark Adler
Spirit Mission Manager
Nerd Information about Mars Cameras (Score:5, Informative)
http://athena.cornell.edu/pdf/tb_pancam.pdf
It's quite interesting actually. Real News for Nerds!
Why so small? (Score:2)
http://astrobio.net/articles/images/spirit_pola
Color Pictures (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Color Pictures (Score:2)
Re:Color Pictures (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't really see the point of sending people to mars. What can they discover that the robots can't? Sure, they can say "Hey! It looks different and there is less gravity!," but we knew that anyway. It is far simpler to send robots. Sending people requires food, life support, oxygen etc., whereas a robot needs solar panels.
The price and inconvenience of sending people far outways any reason to send people over there.
Re:Color Pictures (Score:3, Insightful)
Larry niven
That is why we should be working towards living on Mars, not just visiting.
Re:Would require a "space race" (Score:3, Interesting)
By that time, they may already be ahead of us procedurally -- by that, I mean in their approach/attitude. On their very first manned mission, they've left behind a habitable module in orbit. Later missions will have the goal of docking with it (and perhaps adding to it?). i.e. they're already working on a space station, or at least the technolo
Wait for better pictures. (Score:2)
On a more OnTopic note I have to admit that all the fuss about the current set of pictures from Spirit are a little dissappointing although one or two of them do seem to have some unusual white looking patches (like frost) but we'll have to wait for some better quality ones to filter through before anyone can make any real analysis
nick
News Coverage (Score:2, Interesting)
"US beats Europe to Mars" was the text they had onscreen at one point. Very annoying. I expected more from them. I really gotta stop doing that
HIGH RESOLUTION Panoramic (Score:3, Interesting)
As mentioned before, there are a lot more images if you look here [slashdot.org]
Battlebots (Score:3, Funny)
More Raw Photos (Score:3, Informative)
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit
Enjoy.
Some stereo 3D views I made. (Score:4, Interesting)
Enjoy. [ibiblio.org]
I tried submitting this as a story, but it was rejected.
Hooray.
Re:OMG! (Score:5, Funny)
$400 million actually and yes that is just spirit.
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:3, Interesting)
First of all. $800M (for two rovers) is really inexpensive.
Secondly, the science we gain is very important... and people like you, who can't see it, should go join those poor sobs who can't seem to feed themselves, let alone contribute to the rest of society.
I would much rather pay for science (that helps everybody) than to waste my money trying to feed some poor slob who has no concept of how to even feed themselves - much less contribute.
Lastly, each one of us here on this planet were born with exactl
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:5, Funny)
The Mars mission was to search for Iraq's WMDs that cannot be found on Earth.
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2)
I hope you now have a better understand of how/why food stamps work.
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2)
Re:boy am I glad! (Score:2)
This is where the mistake in understanding is rooted. This is where so many Americans don't do their homework, and why we have the govt. we deserve.
Aid is welfare, however, and is defined as charity. I give you a dollar and I never see anything from that effort.
A subsidy assumes you will invest your windfall, and in turn support
Re:Colour calibration? (Score:5, Interesting)
I was watching these (on NASA TV) as they came in and it was just amazing. Everyone at JPL was really quiet as they knew the data was about to come in. As earth had already set, this data (~12 minutes) was being relayed by Mars Odyssey. The first couple images were really dark and small. You got the impression most people had no idea what they were, but none the less everyone was cheering that they were getting data and pictures back. They got at least one picture that was taken during landing that they weren't expecting. Then the big detailed pictures of the landing site started coming in and everyone was just in awe. Pretty quickly they combined images into mosaics and panoramic shots. I can't wait until they get their good cameras up and running. The commentator was saying the resolution will be hight enough that the pictures will still look good when blown up to the size of a movie screen.
Re:Colour calibration? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Colour calibration? (Score:2)
according to spaceflightnow.com
"0717 GMT (2:17 a.m. EST)
About 24 megabits of data is being played back from Odyssey. It will take about 12 minutes to get all the information, officials report. This will contain engineering data on the rover's systems and possibly some pictures."
assume this was a typo and they meant 24 megabytes. that would only put the transfer rate at about 17kbps
if they really meant 24 megabits of data, than i'm afraid the transfer rate is
Re:Why is this no big deal now? (Score:2, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Problem with images (Score:4, Informative)
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit. html
Link [nasa.gov]
1116 x 328 version (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Problem with images (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Problem with images (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Problem with images (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Problem with images (Score:3, Funny)
Unless you are a Martian.
Re:Problem with images (Score:3, Informative)
Re:how come (Score:5, Informative)
Re:how come (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:how come (Score:3, Insightful)
Or, in layman's terms, "Objects on Mars may be further away than they appear."
--
Rate Naked People [fuckmeter.com] (not wo
Re:Take that EU (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Take that EU (Score:2)
So what was that date that the EU put a man on the moon? Maybe a man in orbit would be an easier one?
You're splitting hairs here man. Don't take things so seriously.
Re:Take that EU (Score:2)
Re:Take that EU (Score:2)
Re:NOT 1/4 billion miles away (sheesh!) (Score:2)
According to this Mars Fact Sheet [nasa.gov], the maximum distance between Earth and Mars is nearly exactly 1/4 billion miles. And while we're probably not at the maximum, we're nowhere near the minimum anymore either.
In six months, we move from one side of the sun to the exact opposite side.
Re:NOT 1/4 billion miles away (sheesh!) (Score:2)
According to JPL's official [nasa.gov] calculation, Spirit (and presumably Mars) are currently 168,377,000 km away, or about 104,000,000 miles.
Re:But the TRIP was 240 Million miles (Score:2)
Re:When are Beagle pics coming in? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is 2004.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Funny. You have MTV expectations.
Re:How come there is so many rocks? (Score:3, Informative)