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To: Professional Engineer
I was watching via internet from the NASA/JPL website. Really cool. It went from 12,000 mph/102 miles up to ZERO/touchdown in thirty seconds.

I can't get live video through the firewall, so I had to depend on the knowledgeable freepers on the live thread. It seems like the lander was rolling around for about half an hour, based on the fluctuating radio signal. Then they decided that the low earth angle was responsible for signal multipathing that made it look like the lander was rolling.

I'm glad they got that settled, since I was racking my brains, trying to figure out what would keep the thing rolling along for so long. It looks like it's not setting on the base petal, but it can right itself later. Waiting for news of NASA news conference later.

16,269 posted on 01/24/2004 10:02:36 PM PST by 300winmag (FR's Hobbit Hole supports America's troops)
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To: 300winmag
It looks like it's not setting on the base petal, but it can right itself later. Waiting for news of NASA news conference later.

I think Spirit came down on the base petal. Pretty neat how any petal down works. Just unfold, and it self rights.

16,270 posted on 01/24/2004 10:17:56 PM PST by Professional Engineer (So, Spirit turns to Beagle and says, "Hold my beer and watch this")
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