Low res, but what are you gonna do for the first set of images the nuclear powered rover has managed to snap? Note that these are in true color, though if what I heard on a mission press conference is any indication, might have been brightened somewhat due to low light conditions when the work started.
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jackal
August 10, 2012 at 10:58 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
OMG! We sent a robot to another planet and it’s sending us pictures! Science fucking ROCKS! /HadToGetThatOutOfMySystem
Jason Thibeault
August 10, 2012 at 11:00 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yup. I want to send Curiosity (and all its engineers!) fucking love letters, I’m so jazzed about this project.
F
August 11, 2012 at 12:23 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
F
August 11, 2012 at 12:25 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Uh. Weird.
Vic
August 11, 2012 at 7:58 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This is awesome.
However, it makes me want to see a true-color image to get a sense of how red the red planet really is.
CompulsoryAccount7746, Sky Captain
August 11, 2012 at 9:24 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
@Vic #5:
Images: Spirit’s panorama list.
Images: Opportunity’s panorama list.
Pick a year at the top and ctrl-f to find ‘true’.
thunk (MSL+MRO=pics!)
August 11, 2012 at 2:41 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Jason:
RTGs (used on Curiosity) aren’t nuclear-powered in the same sense as “nuclear fission”. They actually use thermal energy from the emission of alpha particles from Pu-238 (in most cases), and a thermocouple to convert that to electricity.
F
August 11, 2012 at 11:55 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Try again: I really liked this, Curiosity’s Descent. Although I now notice it shows up anyway as one of the thumbnails once the video above (which is some weird editing, IMO) ends.
yellowsubmarine
August 12, 2012 at 12:11 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wow. Just, wow.
leftwingfox
August 12, 2012 at 10:35 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks for the link, thunk!
I’ve heard about nuclear lighthouses and probes, but those documentaries never explained exactly how those smaller sources worked.