Online Cortex Thoughts on Science and Technology

I have been thinking about human science and exploration, and how long it takes for these processes to initiate and result in acceptance and conclusion.  When considering exploration, it seems it takes about two human lifetimes to go from the initial explorations to settlement.  Perhaps this is the cultural time required for the old guys and their ideas to die off, and the next generation to think seriously about the problems.  Science seems to progress similarly.

This suggests the following timeline:

1969   Humans walk on the Moon

2050  Humans begin colonizing the Moon
2050  Humans begin exploring Mars

2150   Humans begin colonizing Mars
2150   Humans begin exploring the Outer Solar System
2150   Robotic explorers begin surveying Alpha Centauri and neary stars

2250   Humans begin colonizing Outer Solar System

Its too bad that this will take a long time, but each step requires dramatic cultural changes, which take lifetimes to perform.

Kevin Knuth
Boraceia, Brazil

Posted under Astronomy, Exploration, Space

Two great images from the HiRISE camera!

This is the Phoenix probe parachuting into Mars’ north polar region from orbit with Heimdall Crater in the background.  A larger image can be seen at Astronomy Picture of the Day.

This image shows the Phoenix probe on the ground.

At this point, a camera under Phoenix may have found a hard icy substrate underlying the topsoil (story here).

Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Astronomy, Exploration, Mars, Robotics, Software, Space

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) caught the Phoenix probe parachuting in to its landing site!

Full Article here…

SWEEEEET!!!

Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Astronomy, Mars, Robotics, Space, Technology

These guys are publishing these images faster than I can blog!

This image shows the horizon.  This is again a very flat region, but there is interesting patterning on the surface.  Perhaps this is due to freezing/thawing mechanisms.

Here is the link to the incoming images at the Phoenix Mission site.

Enjoy!
Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Astrobiology, Astronomy, Exploration, Mars, Robotics, Space, Uncategorized

Here is the first image back from Phoenix.

It is an image of the footpad.  Clearly, the proble has landed on a level surface.  No obvious sign of ice… yet?

Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Astrobiology, Astronomy, Exploration, Robotics, Space