NASA staffers are jubilant over the text-book landing of their latest Mars probe, Curiosity. The car-sized rover survived the most difficult landing attempt so far on the Red Planet. Not only did entry into the Martian atmosphere go according to plan, but everything else worked.
A parachute deployed, the heat shield dropped off and then came the most audacious part of the landing when a rocket pack slowed the lander down while suspended on what looked like bungee cords. Those were then cut, and Curiosity landed in a crater at 2 miles an hour!
This mission is quite simple. Look for signs of the building blocks of life in the soil. The mission is planned to last 2 years, and the rover will cover about 12 miles. But given the sterling success of Spirit (landed in 2004 and declared "dead" in 2010) and Opportunity, (which also landed in 2004 and is still active), I'd bet safe money this mission will be going on longer than that.
About the only disappointment so far is none of the missions have found the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator, or any trace of Marvin the Martian. Which is probably just as well, since he wants to blow up the Earth 'cause it obstructs his view of Venus. And scientists have proven how smouldering hot SHE is!
'Nuff said.
Welcome! I hope you enjoy, and are maybe infuriated by, my somewhat irreverent take on world news and events, and the people who make and shape them. I hope we can share a laugh, and maybe provoke a thought, about what's happening "out there".
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