Curiosity rover takes first short spin around Mars

World Aug. 23, 2012 - 08:10AM JST ( 9 )

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9 Comments

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ReformedBasherAug. 23, 2012 - 09:21AM JST

Would be good to see the footage.
1

zenkanAug. 23, 2012 - 09:26AM JST

Great to hear that Curiosity is in working order. Looking forward to some fantastic data over the next couple of years.
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Thunderbird2Aug. 23, 2012 - 03:57PM JST

It's wonderful news that the rover can actually start moving... but a month-and-a-half to drive 400 metres? How fast is it going?
2

lostrune2Aug. 23, 2012 - 06:35PM JST

It's wonderful news that the rover can actually start moving... but a month-and-a-half to drive 400 metres? How fast is it going?

It has to travel in short spurts to avoid hazards like the sand traps, while gathering data all along the way. It takes several minutes for the command to travel to the rover, several minutes for data from the rover to travel back, then inspect the data and make sure the way ahead is OK, then several minutes again to send the command, then wait several minutes for the data to come back again, and so on and so on.

They can't just tell it to go somewhere far, then just wait for it to get there. They have to micro-manage it because if something happens in between here and there, they may not be able to fix it.
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globalwatcherAug. 23, 2012 - 10:25PM JST

Wake me up if they find water there.
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Thunderbird2Aug. 23, 2012 - 10:25PM JST

I suppose that's true. I was just expecting something a wee bit faster... well at least it works. Nice one NASA... now go find Martians!
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SerranoAug. 23, 2012 - 10:30PM JST

globalwatcher - They won't find water on that planet. Ice, maybe.
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tapi0caAug. 23, 2012 - 10:54PM JST

Thunderbird & Serrano, Let's make the both of best worlds... If there is martians and ice 'martinis' would be a good goal.
1

UtrackAug. 24, 2012 - 01:04AM JST

ReformedBasher

You can watch Curiousity's footage on NASA's website

http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=18895