Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I know Fuzzy said this BB was supposed to be related to food but somehow I'm just guessin' y'all might just put up with some Douglas Adams's sort of time/space continuum shift (think maybe of the universe's best sandwich...).

My SIL is working on the most recent Mars Lander project out of Pasadena at JPL (she will be helping to 'steer' the damn thingy to a 'most likely' spot). (Side note: as they train they go to work on Martian time, in Pasadena, so as to be one with the machine...). Anyway, now and then she sends me stuff that mortals can understand. This link is the best damn thing she's seen to explain just what "7 minutes of terror" represents for everyone at NASA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pzqdoXwLBT8

Wo! I'm addicted to the Mars rover missions. I've read Steven Squyres' Roving Mars twice. Please keep us updated.

Amy

This one is named Curiosity and it is incredibly complex. Despite this, everyone can find no issue that would predict failure. On paper and in prototype it seems impossible, yet they have looked at every angle a thousand times and believe it will work.

Landing is expected August 5, 2012, 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

The first hurdle was liftoff, the second was just getting there (there are weird and evil things in space), the third will be this complex touchdown involving re-entry, parachute, retro-rockets and sky crane, and finally, driving Curiosity to the most tantalizing spot. There will be a big party when they know it is safely on the ground

And, Fuzzy, that is where the food tangent of this post becomes relevant

Given that the current rovers have outlived their expected mission end dates by years, and the stuff they keep reporting, another rover is great news! I might even be tempted to go for the one way trip. After all, we all die sooner or later, and how many of us will get to got to Mars anytime soon?

Becky - I don't know if you've seen the TED talk about the one-way to Mars but it is utterly fascinating. He likens it to the Shackleford expedition to the South pole! It is a truly inspiring example of the nature of calculated risk and exploration. Sorry, I don't have the link.

Wino,

Because we enforce topic purity on this board so stringently!

Anyway, keep us informed of when to tune in to the Mars Tube.

10 years from now, when you are frying some Martian cabbage, ON SALE!, you'll remember how it all started; besides, I put this in "Miscellaneous"...

August 5th, 5 PM, Pacific time.

Tonight's the night! Good luck Curiosity. I'll be rooting for you.

Amy

Go to NASA TV for a free iPad app that gives you real time broadcast

My brother and SIL are in Pasadena at JPL for a 'landing party', hopefully it won't be crashed...

Wino,

Yeah, I've got NASA TV on my Roku. Touchdown isn't until 9:30PM PDT, though.

... er, 10:30.