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NASA Communications Mars Space IT

How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars Mission To the Web 60

Posted by Soulskill from the real-time-feed-of-real-angry-martians dept.
lgmac brings us a story about how NASA will bring information from the Phoenix Mars lander to the internet in the coming days. CIO Magazine speaks with JPL's chief knowledge architect and others about how they'll provide massive amounts of data from the lander to suit the needs of an audience ranging from professors to 8-year-olds. We've been discussing the Phoenix mission for quite a while now. The landing is on schedule for Sunday at roughly 5PM PDT. "'In previous missions, a system like this didn't exist and people were sharing images via external drives,' Bitter says. Some of the images are put up immediately and captioned, or sent to museum audiences, while others are made part of huge mosaic pictures that display the majesty of what the NASA spacecraft encounters, she says. In addition to the sheer volume of data that must be sifted through, challenges included the large, dispersed team, Holm says. 'The content management system has to be easy to use and agnostic,' she says, 'It's all about speed and accuracy of data.' Video on the Web represents one of the biggest changes for modern-day missions for the public, Holm says. 'There's a visceral response we get from people. They feel like they're really there.'"
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How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars Mission To the Web More

How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars Mission To the Web

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  • I for one will have a tab open permanently (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Finallyjoined!!! ( 1158431 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:02PM (#23512910)
    on the NASA page.

    This is fantastic stuff, pity this sort of technology (internet I mean) wasn't available in 1969. I was glued to the TV set then, I will be glued to t'internet now.

  • i remember the spirit landing (Score:5, Interesting)

    by adpowers ( 153922 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:16PM (#23512998)
    I remember watching Spirit land on Mars a few years ago. I streamed NASA TV over the internet and remember the anticipation of waiting for data and the excitement when the images finally began appearing on screen. It is a memory that is very fond to me and is still clear in my mind. Being too young to experience the moon landing, the Spirit landing and Columbia disaster are my strongest memories of the space program. Each represents the best and worst of the space exploration.

    I hope to be able to stream the Phoenix landing on Sunday.

    • Re:i remember the spirit landing (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:40PM (#23513150)
      If the webcast is unavailable due to overwhelming demand (there's a lot of nerds out there...slashdotting sometimes even happens to NASA), you might try the local public access TV channel. The one here in Portland often picks up the NASA TV broadcast for major events like this, and they take it from the satellite broadcast, so NASA TV server bandwidth isn't a problem.

      If you're really hardcore, there's instructions on the NASA TV site for how to receive the digital satellite broadcast.

      • Re:i remember the spirit landing (Score:4, Insightful)

        by eln ( 21727 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @09:47PM (#23513500)

        If you're really hardcore, there's instructions on the NASA TV site for how to receive the digital satellite broadcast.
        I can give you the instructions:

        Step 1: Get DirecTV
        Step 2: That is all.

        I know that's not what you meant, just thought I'd point out that NASA TV is on DirecTV, that's where I saw the Deep Impact comet impact happen. It was truly thrilling seeing it all unfold in real time.
        • Of course, DirecTV is not legally available north of the border, and not surprisingly, NASA-TV is unavailable here also.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by ch-chuck ( 9622 )
          That's not hardcore - the true space geek will get it free [lyngsat.com]. Scroll down to NASA, it says "F" (free) for "video encryption".

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by barzok ( 26681 )
      I spent the entire day of Pathfinder's landing watching NASA TV and related channels. I was in complete awe every minute...and when the first images came down, that whole day of waiting was more than worth it.

    • memories are funny things (Score:5, Interesting)

      by WindBourne ( 631190 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @11:39PM (#23514082) Journal
      A few years ago, I described a situation to my parents. I vividly remember my mother being upset and my little sister being sick. It turned out that it was not just my sister being sicked, but my father was sitting on a runway in a b-47 waiting orders to head to USSR; It was cuban missle crisis. Another time, my father suddenly being called up, and I remember him strapping his 45 on (I had never seen him wear it before and was curious; all pilots did then to ensure that all members of the craft performed their task correctly if needed). He was apparently put on alert because Kennedy had just been assasinated. Since that time, I recall vividly the images on a BW tv of our first space walk (it was interesting to see him move around). I still recall Apollo 1 and the mode in our house at that time (We had just moved from Texas to Ill just a bit earlier). Likewise, apollo 11 and of course 13, challenger, etc.

      It is easy to have these memories. But what you need is to try and instill these in others who are younger than yourself. I have 2 children; 1 is 4 y.o. and the other is 19 m.o. (I enjoyed life too much early so started on a family very late). I have coated my kids room with mag paints and have the planets on the wall. In addition, I like to take my 4 yo out and show her the moon and then talk about where man landed on it. Why? Because it is important for each generation to make sure that the next generation understands why this is important. Even now, I see the despare that is in the 20-35 y.o. WRT human space flights. Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along. The reason is that at this time, we are the best tool. High maintence, but still the only flexable tool. Sadly, Nixon killed the space program and all the presidents since him have done very little. As much as I dislike W, he has the right idea in going back to the moon. Of course, it is griffin that is doing it mostly correct.

      • Re:memories are funny things (Score:4, Insightful)

        by Ford Prefect ( 8777 ) on Friday May 23, 2008 @03:02AM (#23514772) Homepage

        Even now, I see the despare that is in the 20-35 y.o. WRT human space flights. Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along. The reason is that at this time, we are the best tool. High maintence, but still the only flexable tool.

        I'm 28. On my shelves are books like Full Moon [amazon.com], a NASA atlas of the solar system, a biography of Sergei Korolev... I'm a bit of a space nut in my spare time (and did the astrophysics degree to prove it).

        Human spaceflight is fascinating, but right now it's utterly useless for exploring our own solar system, let alone further afield. There's just way too much sodding plumbing you have to take along too. A radiation-hardened processor controlling a space probe is one thing, but the necessary life support mechanisms, living area, exercise machines, lavatory facilities, windows to look out of, paper underpants, DVD players, Tang, freeze-dried noodles and the machinery necessary to reprocess piss and shit into something more palatable... Humans just aren't designed for spaceflight.

        If most of the non-fuel mass of your spacecraft is solely there to stop the human passengers from coughing their guts into hard vacuum, you may be doing something wrong. A far smaller craft which doesn't care less about the one-way nature of its mission, laden with scientific instrumentation designed solely to learn about its destination - that's more like it. And, compared with the human alternative, they're both cheap and disposable - so if something does go wrong, launch another one...

        I'd love for humans to walk on the surface of Mars within my lifetime. But I also accept that it would just be another, magnificent white elephant along the lines of the original Apollo missions to the moon - no chance of living off the land when you're so utterly dependent on the exact hardware that took you there. We're more likely to progress long-term by investing in genuinely novel solutions to problems, even if they remain unmanned for the foreseeable future - and the wealth of knowledge about our solar system that we'll have gained from such robotic space probes will be invaluable when we do finally get round to those real attempts at colonisation...

        • We're more likely to progress long-term by investing in genuinely novel solutions to problems, even if they remain unmanned for the foreseeable future - and the wealth of knowledge about our solar system that we'll have gained from such robotic space probes will be invaluable when we do finally get round to those real attempts at colonisation...

          Those novel situations to problems will not arise without the associated problems. Thus, solving the problems of human spaceflight will lead to solutions that will work here on earth. Just think about the starving villagers in Myanmar, drowning in their own feces with their homes under standing water. Now imagine a scenario where the US could send over machines that convert the shit to food. A manned Mars mission would prioritize the development of such a machine. And it's not as far fetched as it sounds.

        • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

          by waveclaw ( 43274 )
          Really if you are a planning on being a space-fairing species a lot of this is junk weight.

          Human spaceflight is fascinating, but right now it's utterly useless for exploring our own solar system, let alone further afield. There's just way too much sodding plumbing you have to take along too.

          And most that plumbing is to support a GI and musculature for surviving on the Savanah and the reproductive system to make more of the same.

          A radiation-hardened processor controlling a space probe is one thing, but the

      • Seriously, whatever resources we can find on the moon or mars are not worth the effort. The moon is a vacuum complete with razor sharp dust that is guaranteed to be shredding any machinery up there for the next forever, and microgravity that will turn your bones to jelly. Mars is a frozen wasteland with more jellifying low gravity, which is a full stop dead end for human colonisation with no easy answer.

        We need to focus not on manned missions to these planets but on automated missions to asteroids and s

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Cally ( 10873 )

        Yet, if we really want to explore AND to preserve mankind, then we MUST go along.

        Look, if you can't accept that humans will go extinct one day, here's a whisky and perspective. Life is short, get used to it. I can't understand how so many intelligent people really think the future of humanity is something like a bad 60s movie with everyone living in domes on the moon. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. How is that so hard to understand? A popular way to look at this is to ask: why isn't the future of humanity living in the middle of the Gobi desert?: It's millions of times easier to get there and

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by ejecta ( 1167015 )
          Living in a desert isn't that difficult as long as you start with a shelter of some form and some living plant material you can use the plant material to condense water & water more plant material to ramp up production to support a small community (that's if you can't drop a bore down).

          However at the end of the day, most people don't want to live in a desert because its 'boring', most people don't want to merely survive, they want whizz bang gadgets & the latest entertainment machines.

          I myself would

  • If NASA gets slashdotted... (Score:5, Informative)

    by 3waygeek ( 58990 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:22PM (#23513028)
    The Science Channel [discovery.com] will have live coverage Sunday night between 7 & 9 PM ET.

  • And it's about time: (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Fluffeh ( 1273756 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:25PM (#23513044)
    It's about time NASA did some of this good old fashioned PR stuff. This sort of thing - just letting people get caught up in the awe of it all - is so much better than any other PR that they could possibly do.

    A company that showed me something that they did, that let me get swept away by the sheer audacity of it? That let me be instantly teleported to some other planet in our solar system through amazing photographs? That let me stand on the surface of another planet - even if only in my mind?

    Yeah, that's the sort of company that I can
    Open my checkbook for.
    Petition my local congressman/senator/governing body for.
    Happily teach my kids about.
    Generally go out of my way for.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by QuantumG ( 50515 ) *
      But it's a bit hit and miss. Along with funding the creation of some good youtube videos, and some good web design, they're also blowing a whole bunch of cash on a Second Life presence.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by CraftyJack ( 1031736 )

      Petition my local congressman/senator/governing body for.
      Please remember to do this. The many people that have brought Phoenix this far (fingers crossed) have been at it for quite some time. It takes many man-hours to do it right. If the funding isn't there, it can't happen.

      This concludes my Sally Struthers moment.

  • Here's hoping... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by actionbastard ( 1206160 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @08:28PM (#23513066)
    That they have their unit conversions worked out correctly [jamesoberg.com].

  • "How NASA Will Bring the Phoenix Mars..." (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    ...with a web cam.
  • I can't imagine the computing power necessary to fake that amount of data. j/k i guess it will be like when they "faked" the moon landing with special effects that were way ahead of what was being seen in movies at the time.
    • Oh come on, they've been working on this for years. You don't actually think that seti@home was for looking for aliens do you? It's gonna look (adjusting my tin foil hat) great!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by lgw ( 121541 )
      We all know now that the moon landings were filmed in a soundstage on Mars. This fake Mars landing will be easier, as they're filming it on the Moon.

  • I'm feeling it (Score:5, Funny)

    by SEWilco ( 27983 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @09:03PM (#23513278) Journal

    "... They feel like they're really there."

    Can't... breathe...

  • World Wide Web (Score:3, Insightful)

    by JuzzFunky ( 796384 ) on Thursday May 22, 2008 @10:25PM (#23513680)
    I guess the term World Wide Web is now totally obsolete...
    Solar System Wide Web?

    • They Don't Run IP (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Actually they don't run IP from the spacecraft as generally bandwidth is scarce and IP is for this purpose atleast bandwidth wasteful. But I beleive they are looking into it. but not using traditional TCP/IP through.

      -AC
      • How do you run error correction over a link with a 15minute latency each way? Traditional IP is not going to be at all efficient. Does anyone know what the data transmission protocols are, the solution must be interesting.
    • an interesting and a cute idea.
      Galaxy Wide Web might be a little catchier tho.
      Tho the whole www thing is dead. http://no-www.org/ [no-www.org]

      or maybe we should expend the meaning of the word 'world'.Just as it was expended during the exploration of this planet. Hence the 'new world', 'old world'.

      What is world? And don't pull wikipedia definitions on me. As I have stated the word 'world' has changed its meaning through time, or rather expended it. Maybe we should do it again?

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by NCG_Mike ( 905098 )
      I wondered if it was possible to bounce an e-mail around until the domain, "mars.net" appeared and send their postmaster a greeting from the past... "All your base... oh forget it".

  • Late Breaking News! (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    > 'There's a visceral response we get from people. They feel like they're really there.'

    The Red Planet stands steadfast under the guidance of the Council of Elders.

    K'Breel, speaker for the most Illustrious Council of Elders, made the following comment:

    The ones from the third planet claim to be Masters! They claim to have sent their foulness on a Trip! The one the Monkeys call "Holm" speaks of 'visceral' experiences! Her species stands condemned by its own words!

    When a journalist suggested that

  • The Phoenix mission also has a page on Twitter, [twitter.com] which isn't something one normally expects for a spacecraft.
    • So it is, gives lots of status updates and factoids - last one so far..
      "After 90 days, when I freeze, that will be end of mission. But if I wake up again (when the sun returns to arctic circle) I will phone home."

      How anthropomorphic and cute can you get!

      Nasa TV just fired up, this is way better than traditional tv, you feel much more engaged with the thing following it in real time. Lots of luck to Phoenix, theres a lot of people with their fingers crossed (thumbs held in Sweden).
  • I already registered www.another-crater-on-mars.com
  • NASA rover updates in the form of teen-girl livejournals. Opportunity's latest update is over a year ago, spiritrover's is even older, unfortunately.

    http://opportunitygrrl.livejournal.com/ [livejournal.com] http://spiritrover.livejournal.com/ [livejournal.com]

  • Denver Science Museum landing party (Score:3, Interesting)

    by peter303 ( 12292 ) on Friday May 23, 2008 @09:42AM (#23516486)
    Another activity is that several institutions around the world will have "landing parties" with live NASA TV feeds. Denver Science museum is one of them. They will fill two auditoriums and their IMAX with spectators for the @4PM landing and @8PM first picture feed. Plus they will have various planetary sciences and construction engineers (probe built in Denver area) fill in with lectures. They are even selling dinner for the hard-care who may stay the full six hours. Its sold out. They had successful parties for the past three Mars probe arrivals.

    I debating whether to be a real nerd and "dress up" for the occasion. I have something that look like the attennae in "My Favorite Martian" or the Saturday morning cartoons ....

  • If It Lands (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by s31523 ( 926314 )

    NASA will bring information from the Phoenix Mars lander to the internet in the coming days.

    That is, if the thing survives the landing. NASA even admits the probability of success is low. WTF?

    Lets send a 400 million dollar space craft to a planet that will in all likelyhood crash into it. THEN, if it does make it, we will most likely lose it to the harsh polar winter that will take place in the upcoming months.

    Wow, that is great.

  • Torrents? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by VeNoM0619 ( 1058216 )

    CIO Magazine speaks with JPL's chief knowledge architect and others about how they'll provide massive amounts of data from the lander to suit the needs of an audience ranging from professors to 8-year-old

    So... torrents? I never understood why scientific corporations where they want to give out the data (and everyone eagerly wants it) but "don't have the bandwidth" never use torrents. You set the upload rate and make it up to the people who claim to eagerly want it to patiently wait for each other to distribute it for you. Plus this will help lessen the claims on torrents being illegal...

  • For anyone near Charleston, WV on Sunday, May 25th the Clay Center [theclaycenter.org] will be displaying streaming video from the Green Bank radio telescope [nrao.edu] that NASA is using to watch the landing. This event is free, open to the public and doors open at 6:30 pm.
  • I'm sorry to see that only a few stereo images are available so far, particularly since many of the images released are from the right stereo camera, and there's probably a left image as well. If you think life coverage is like being there, viewing a stereo image is really like being there! It's a whole other sensation.

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