We're Going To (Hopefully) Land On Mars Tomorrow!

[RootBeerMan]

On Monday, (Nov. 26) NASA will attempt to land the InSight lander on Mars. This is a good mission to get a better look at Mars, it's geology and learn more about how it formed as a planet. I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes, as Mars is littered with the corpses many failed landers. It's a hard thing to do.

https://www.space.com/42527-insight-mars-lander-journey-inside-red-planet.html

One of my favourite comedy artists and space geek, The Oatmeal, put out a humorous strip about the mission that really does a better job of explaining things than any indepth article. He'll also be live tweeting the landing from JPL tomorrow!

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/insight

 

[Lioness~]

Hope everything goes alright. That we learn plenty.

Also looking forward to get a closer look at the Marsians
If they show up.

Funny strip, will reread it later too.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Robb Manning, chief engineer at JPL in Pasadena, explains what has to happen to get from space to the surface.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Robb Manning, chief engineer at JPL in Pasadena, explains what has to happen to get from space to the surface.

Is there always dramatic orchestral music when he talks?

 

[RootBeerMan]

Is there always dramatic orchestral music when he talks?

Doubtful that they do it in meetings, but in videos it adds a element of style.

 

[chown33]

Is there always dramatic orchestral music when he talks?

Personally, I always carry around a boombox with "Ride of the Valkyries" on it, because you never know when it might be needed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

According to the Guardian, (who have a 'live stream') "InSight" has just touched down - apparently safely - on the surface of Mars around ten minutes ago.

Fifteen minutes ago, InSight entered the "thin" atmosphere of Mars, and eleven minutes ago, deployed its parachute.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Yep, it was a very successful landing! Here's the first view of Mars from the lander. Now NASA can start InSight's 2 year mission!

 

[chown33]

Yep, it was a very successful landing! Here's the first view of Mars from the lander. Now NASA can start InSight's 2 year mission!

View attachment 806695

That photo looks sort of like my patio surface.

Wait a sec, there's a weird contraption sitting out there....

 

[RobinInOR]

I was waiting for a Martian to stick his face in the lander camera and say ‘hi mom!’
I love watching landings.

 

[RootBeerMan]

I have been told, elsewhere that future pictures will be better as there is a transparent cover on the camera that will have to remove itself.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Personally, I always carry around a boombox with "Ride of the Valkyries" on it, because you never know when it might be needed.

Or Pachelbel’s Canon, as the case may be.
Right @Scepticalscribe ?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Or Pachelbel’s Canon, as the case may be.
Right @Scepticalscribe ?

You read my mind, @mobilehaathi, you read my mind. Sigh. Wonderful.

Thus prompted, can you guess what I shall listen to next?

 

[chown33]

You read my mind, @mobilehaathi, you read my mind. Sigh. Wonderful.

Thus prompted, can you guess what I shall listen to next?

I'll guess:

Spoiler

Not Wagner.

But since they're German, let's try:

Spoiler

Bach.
Or maybe:

Spoiler

Mozart.

Spoiler

Who technically isn't German, but Austrian.

Spoiler

Without kangaroos.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'll guess:

Spoiler

Not Wagner.

But since they're German, let's try:

Spoiler

Bach.
Or maybe:

Spoiler

Mozart.

Spoiler

Who technically isn't German, but Austrian.

Spoiler

Without kangaroos.

Bach and Mozart will always be welcome to my ears and on my shelves.

But, @mobilehaathi had the right of it.

For some occasions, it just has to be Pachelbel.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Well, the camera cover was jettisoned and InSight took a better picture. Mars sure is a desolate place. Needs some serious terraforming and some trees!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, the camera cover was jettisoned and InSight took a better picture. Mars sure is a desolate place. Needs some serious terraforming and some trees!

View attachment 806844

Desolate but fascinating.

 

[lowendlinux]

It makes me glad that some people actually like math