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
This post was written by drknuth on May 25, 2008
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
This post was written by drknuth on May 25, 2008
At 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory received radio signals from the Mars Phoenix Lander confirming that it survived its landing in the north polar region of Mars.
The probe enters the Martian atmosphere at about 78 miles above the surface and begins decelerating from its space cruise velocity of 12,500 miles per hour down to Mach 1.7 (1.7 times the speed of sound) when its parachute deployed. The parachute is jettisoned at 1 km above the surface when the probe fires its rocket thrusters to decelerate it further until it reaches either 12 meters altitude or a speed of 5 miles per hour. At this point the rocket engines stop and the probe drops to the surface.
Above is an artist’s conception.
I cant wait to see how it really will look!
Tomorrow…
Check the Phoenix Mission Site for updates!
Kevin Knuth
Albany NY
Posted under Astrobiology, Astronomy, Exploration, Mars, Robotics, Space
This post was written by drknuth on May 25, 2008
During the second spacewalk of the STS-123 mission, the crew began assembling Dextre. Dextre is the newest member of the International Space Station’s Mobile Servicing System, and will act as a repair and construction robot for the ISS’s exterior. Dextre is enormous “standing” or rather floating at 12 feet tall. He has an 8 foot shoulder space and two 11 foot arms!
From National Geographic News, Astronaut Garrett Reisman stated,
“Now I wouldn’t go as far to say that we’re worried it’s going to go run amok and take over the space station or turn evil or anything because we all know how it’s operated and it doesn’t have a lot of its own intelligence,” Reisman told the Associated Press last week.
“But I’ll tell you something,” Reisman said. “He’s enormous, and to see him with his giant arms, it is a little scary. It’s a little monstrous, it is.”
Dextre is provided by the Canada Space Agency, who has for years supported the robotic arm on the shuttle.
This is a video of the installation:
High resolution – 50.3 MB
Low resolution – 2.6 MB
More videos and images can be found here.
Kevin Knuth
Albany NY
Posted under Exploration, Intelligent Systems, Research, Robotics, Space, Technology
This post was written by drknuth on March 18, 2008
