A Wild Ride

[Chris Kern]

The U.S. space agency's latest surface probe will attempt to land on Mars 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.

[Alan Klein]

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. 

[Chris Kern]

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:



(2) a snap of the probe being set down, captured by the descent stage:



and (3) a wide-angle shot of the nearby Martian surface:



No doubt much more imagery will soon appear on the space agency's site.

[langier]

Lastest pix from the NASA Mars feed  (Couldn't resist!)

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I love it, Larry!

[Alan Klein]

Looks like my backyard. 

[Chris Kern]

Lastest pix from the NASA Mars feed  (Couldn't resist!)

Yes, the poor guy no doubt is feeling a bit isolated these days.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

But he's got those fine mittens to keep away the cold.

[Alan Klein]

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.

[Peter McLennan]

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.

[Alan Klein]

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? 

[Chris Kern]

NASA has released a remarkable video of the descent and touchdown.

[Alan Klein]

NASA has released a remarkable video 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.     

[MattBurt]

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.

[Peter McLennan]

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/