New Mars Forums

Byron

Member

From: Florida, USA

Registered: 2002-05-16

Posts: 844

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

This just in....

Recovery operations will likely continue for 2-3 weeks until the problems are completely diagnosed and corrected. However, today's news is a very positive development.

I like the sound of that last line   It appears that there's a problem with the flash memory...they've commanded the onboard computer to boot up using only RAM memory...and it responded in a successful manner, which has also ended the endless cycle of reboots (whew!)

I guess we can start breathing at least a *little* easier right about now...lol.

B

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

This just in....

Recovery operations will likely continue for 2-3 weeks until the problems are completely diagnosed and corrected. However, today's news is a very positive development.

I like the sound of that last line   It appears that there's a problem with the flash memory...they've commanded the onboard computer to boot up using only RAM memory...and it responded in a successful manner, which has also ended the endless cycle of reboots (whew!)

I guess we can start breathing at least a *little* easier right about now...lol.

B

*Thanks for the update, Byron.

Knowing Spirit is out of that "cycle of reboots"...yeah, that makes me feel much better about it as well.

C'mon Spirit! 

--Cindy

::edit::  I may not be back online this evening.  Will watch TV coverage of Opportunity, but with husband ill with a bad cold and my beginning to feel a bit ill also, I'll probably not post again until tomorrow (it's also been an 11-hour day on the computer already, geez...).  Good luck Opportunity.

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

brthrjon

InActive

From: Jacksonville, Fl

Registered: 2004-01-24

Posts: 9

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Sounds like the crew at JPL has been putting in alot of hours to figure out this bug.  I wonder if we can send them pizzas or something?

Mark

Banned

From: Australia

Registered: 2003-12-27

Posts: 44

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

How much time exactly is there left before opportunity lands from now. I don't quite understand the PST and UTC times.

Ad Astra

Member

Registered: 2003-02-02

Posts: 584

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

It should land just after midnight Eastern time.

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Who needs Michael Griffin when you can have Peter Griffin?  Catch "Family Guy" Sunday nights on FOX.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

That was fun.

All went well. Landing was at only 2g's! Dropped like a freaking feather!

Press briefing soon... might be back later tonight when we potentially get images.

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

wgc

Banned

From: Michigan

Registered: 2003-12-09

Posts: 110

Website

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Nasa tv is off until 10:30 pst

There was a time when both nasa tv and cspan would of covered this all night,, after all whats on this late, see why we need that bush initiative.

Why I'm waiting I'm in photoshop working on a photo I plan to post on my website sol3.typepad.com, headline is if Kerry wins: the picture is of a dog food bag , dems dogfood , specially fortified for young engineers.

(meaning engineering in this country needs a boast, a friend of mine was telling me that a person they know, just graduated with honors in engineering, and after several months with no job he found one as a waiter.... maybe an engineering job won't even buy you a bag of dog food soon... I will calculate pi for food)

Funny I've never been much of a republican before, but I think the Bush plan is the best shot we have at a desint space program. .. Now you can curse me....

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portal.holo-spot.net

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

*Just got the good news via Yahoo! of Opportunity's successful landing.

It's 6,600 miles from Spirit. 

Congratulations all around, and best of luck in the upcoming days...and another "get well soon!" to Spirit. 

--Cindy

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Press briefing starting now, for those interested. You'll want to stay up for this guys. Pictures should be down tonight. I'm very confident.

edit: 3 FOR 3 ROB MANNING!!!

Edited By Josh Cryer on 1075013027

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Mark

Banned

From: Australia

Registered: 2003-12-27

Posts: 44

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Looks like things look very good for Opportunity at the moment, great stuff. Hopefully it'll be able to unfold itself succesfully and roll off the lander and begin exploration. It'll be interesting to see what photos it beams back because apparently Medriani Platnum looks quite different to Gusev Crater.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

We should be getting images soon!

edit: Got a lock!

images ANY SECOND NOW

edit: here it comes!

edit: ahh, solar arrays fully functioning, everything going well

edit: aaah, rear hascam thumbnail, awesome!

fullnavcams coming down right now.... guys, tune in, hehe...

Edited By Josh Cryer on 1075021976

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

It's an OBVIOUS LAKEBED, oh my god! AAAH!!

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

HOLY CRAP! This is the greatest thing ever!

edit, what I mean is that we have obvious ledges in the area, not very far away, this is really really excellent! this is basically, imho, the first view of layered rocks on Mars!

edit: steve sqyures is going nuts, hahaha, this is so great

every probe that has ever went to Mars has been on a rocky landscape, all the landscapes look familiar, this place is so foreign to me.

HAHA

Steve Squyres just said, "This is the sweetest site I've ever seen."

I couldn't agree more!

edit, hehe, Steve Squyres, "I'd say that outcrop is a good first target, don't you think?"

Earlier mentioning it looked like sedimentary rocks (like how I said "layered," it's so obvious, even to some amateur like me)...

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN

Opportunity really is going to give us some amazing opportunities.

Edited By Josh Cryer on 1075022781

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

from the text feed

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

remcook

Banned

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 78

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

ans have you seen this?

[http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/merb … mage2.html]http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/merb … mage2.html

definately weird!

wooohooo!!!

remcook

Banned

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 78

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

only hope Spirit continues its quest and that it makes it to the crater and to the hills!!

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Spirit is going to be okay!

They released all the images already! Woohoo!

[http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … unity.html]http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … unity.html

They are on the ball with this one!

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Mark

Banned

From: Australia

Registered: 2003-12-27

Posts: 44

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

What is that big white cylindrical object Josh?

remcook

Banned

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 78

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

that would be the pancam I guess

edit- stowed up that is

Mark

Banned

From: Australia

Registered: 2003-12-27

Posts: 44

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Oh ok, also, the next briefing is 2:00AM PST, what time is it currently in PST? or, how long to go before that briefing? It's one I don't want to miss, it should be very interesting to see what they say about the images.

Michael Bloxham

Member

From: Auckland, New Zealand

Registered: 2002-03-31

Posts: 426

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

Gee whiz... This place is weird... Looks like ancient martian foundation work nearby...
Where's the hematite?

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- Mike,  Member of the [b][url=http://cleanslate.editboard.com]Clean Slate Society[/url][/b]

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

remcook would be correct.

Press briefing starting in about a minute. Be prepared for some excited faces, heheh.

edit: Mark, hehe, it's 1:59 PST, haha.

Tune in.

edit: Pete, "We done good."

edit: Steve is shaking, it's so overwelming. I can't even transcribe what he's saying... I feel almost the same way...

edit: Steve, "first bedrock outcrop ever seen on Mars."

That was my first inclination. Scroll back to see my reaction. Man. Man man man.

Edited By Josh Cryer on 1075025486

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

THEY GOT A COLOR PANCAM IMAGE! AAAAH

edit: Earlier tonight they surprised Sean with a "birthday cake on Mars," and they made it out to be some "magical discovery" or whatever, and scanned over to this little CGI birthday cake on Mars.

This time, they went "we have a surprise for you now Steve, but this time it's serious," and they showed a full res color pancam image. Man. Where is it, dangit... want to get a link for you guys.

edit: it really is the most bizarre color image I've ever seen

Hehe, steve just answered to some questions about the color image "You've gotta realize, I just saw this image the same time you guys did."

Some of the guys in the back of the room just yelled out in answer, that that it's the "darkest stuff we've ever found on Mars."

edit: Steve on the outcrop, "it looks slabbed, it looks layered." Just exactly what I said earlier on.

Edited By Josh Cryer on 1075026440

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Spirit & Opportunity 2 - Continued from original thread

oh boy fascinatig stuff
oh boy oh boy oh boy...
OH BOY! (looking at pics on nasaTV...)

*grabs straightjacket*

BEDROCK!
That's stuff that didn't got deplaced, so... (mind buzzes)

this is the most amazing place ever seen, yet.