Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Spirit Lands: January 3, 2004 about 8:35 pm PST

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/tl_entry1.html ^ | 1/3/04 | NASA

[mdittmar]

Step-by-Step Guide to Entry, Descent, and Landing.

On the evening of January 3, 2004, Spirit is scheduled to land on Mars. Here's a step-by-step guide to what will happen. To watch mission controllers live during entry, descent and landing, please tune into NASA TV at 6:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

[Stars N Stripes]

LOL.... The legend continues. Nice one.

[demlosers]

The program managers seem confident.

[Stars N Stripes]

Anyone else notice that the "NASA Team Members" are all dressed up. Showing that they really respect the importance of the events at hand. Where as the members of the media look like they just crawled out of some hole, or university class room.

Or is it just me?

[Finalapproach29er]

Any pictures expected tonight?

[Carolinamom]

BTTT

[rmmcdaniell]

I think the major problem is that NASA spends too much on the shuttle and less for the real interesting exploration. If they didn't have to nickle and dime their way to Mars then the outcome would be assured.

NASA has a fetish with having humans in space even if all they do is study how flies fart in zero gravity on the shuttle. IMO quality robot missions are the way to go right now.

[ctonious]

Oh, goody -- more spare parts to rebuild my Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator!

"1952: The Hasty Hare Episode - Marvin receives orders from the general to bring one Earth creature back to Mars. Unfortunately, he makes the mistake of choosing Bugs Bunny. Bugs manages to trick Marvin and K-9 in all sorts of ways, like convincing Marvin that his faithful dog is really plotting against him!"

Marvin gets his revenge on the EU's Beagle and awaits Rover.

[al baby]

Any pictures expected tonight?


This one just came in

[mdittmar]

Step Eighteen: Data transmission to the Mars Odyssey orbiter begins

The Mars Odyssey orbiter passes across the sky above the landing site for about 15 minutes. If Spirit gets through its critical deployments in time, it will use the rover's UHF antenna to send information, perhaps including images, to Odyssey. Odyssey forwards that information to Earth between 11 p.m. and midnight PST. However, Spirit might not be ready to communicate with Odyssey by the time the orbiter flies overhead, especially if Spirit ends its roll with a side petal instead of its base petal down. Also, as with the communications attempt with Mars Global Surveyor (step eleven), there has never been a chance to test communications between a transmitter on the surface of Mars and an orbiter.

Step Nineteen: Spirit sleeps Under normal conditions, the rover goes to sleep after the Odyssey pass.

[tet68]

Well, they are hopeful that if the rover lands correctly it may have time to send some but if it lands on one of the side petals it will take more time to right itself and the Mars observer will not be in a position to relay any.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Another good site to track this mission is here:

http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/status.html

[Central Scrutiniser]

Gusev Crater Landing Zone:

[js1138]

http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/status.html

[ReleaseTheHounds]

After the great news coming from NASA TV, we just switched over to see what CNN was reporting on its "scroll": NOTHING... Top News Headlines: all about the British Airways flight cancellations/delays... Switch to Fox: NASA! Is it any wonder people are turning off CNN.

Congrats NASA! Very well done!

You can bet there are some frowns in France with this good news.

[alphadog]

Howard Dean expressed regret that the lander wasn't bigger,

"Hell... just how much science stuff can you cram into a golf cart sized rover anyway"

[ReleaseTheHounds]

My prediction is smash,crash,no signal.

Gee, I knew the French would be disappointed with our success... I hope you're not. This was an amazing achievement.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

NASA Scores again. Success again!

Spirit has bounced it's way to history.

It has landed and is transmitting!

NASA press conference at 12:30 EST

[Only1choice____Freedom]

0536 GMT (12:36 a.m. EST) O'Keefe and other program officials are having a toast to celebrate the Mars Exploration Rovers.

0534 GMT (12:34 a.m. EST) "This is a big night for NASA. We are back!" agency administrator Sean O'Keefe just proclaimed at the post-landing news conference.

Congradulations NASA. America is proud of you.

[mdittmar]

I think it's great,just figured the odds were not good.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh heh... like the old saying, it's not the fall that kills ya, it's that sudden stop at the end.