Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: Chris Kern on February 16, 2021, 07:01:01 pm
-
The U.S. space agency's latest surface probe will attempt to land on Mars (https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/) Thursday. The touchdown will be complicated, but autonomous navigation software, used for the first time, will try to set it down safely in an appropriate location.
It's going to be a wild ride.
-
That's a pretty nifty machine. I hope it makes it down safely. We could all use a boost in pride and accomplishment during this dire period.
-
Some initial pix of and from the Mars probe have been published on the NASA website, including
(1) an image of the parachute-retarded descent captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter:
(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/perseverance_descent.jpg)
(2) a snap of the probe being set down, captured by the descent stage:
(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/rover_drop.jpg)
and (3) a wide-angle shot of the nearby Martian surface:
(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia24430-1041.jpg)
No doubt much more imagery will soon appear on the space agency's site. (https://www.nasa.gov/)
-
Lastest pix from the NASA Mars feed :P (Couldn't resist!)
-
I love it, Larry!
-
Looks like my backyard. :)
-
Lastest pix from the NASA Mars feed :P (Couldn't resist!)
Yes, the poor guy no doubt is feeling a bit isolated these days.
-
But he's got those fine mittens to keep away the cold.
-
Most of the pictures on this mission will be in hi-resolution color, unlike previous missions, although Mars looks pretty drab so far. I want to see red sand and green Martians.
-
I love the semi-epithet “engineering” camera. In other words, not a “real” camera. :). (kidding, of course)
The best news about the vertical POV shot is that it’s a still image from a video. One of many shot by other stages in the EDL operation.
-
I love the semi-epithet “engineering” camera. In other words, not a “real” camera. :). (kidding, of course)
The best news about the vertical POV shot is that it’s a still image from a video. One of many shot by other stages in the EDL operation.
These aren't Hassies, are they? :)
-
NASA has released a remarkable video (https://youtu.be/4czjS9h4Fpg) of the descent and touchdown.
-
NASA has released a remarkable video (https://youtu.be/4czjS9h4Fpg) of the descent and touchdown.
Really great video. Very clear. I didn't realize how quickly it descends. The parachute was operating when the capsule was going faster than the speed of sound (on Earth). Of course, the atmosphere's thinner.
-
Amazing. I'm fascinated and as a software engineer, their programming is very impressive. What a thrill that would be to work on a project like that.
-
It's all just another example of government incompetence. :)
I printed both the look-down and look-up camera images and they're in the place of honor in my house. The fridge.
Here's where I got images:
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/