Comments on: Holy Shit We’re on Mars

By: The Good Beet

The Good Beet — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:27:47 +0000

Hey Evil,
Thanks for the thanks ;) I work for the little company that built the thrusters that landed the spacecraft that Lockheed built (for JPL). There were a lot of us involved in the Phoenix program to varying degrees. I was fortunate to be one of those a little on the more closely involved side. And believe me, I was clutching my desk pretty fierce, especially after separation from the parachute, when it became the thrusters’ turn. Was it just me, or were those altitudes being called out getting really small really fast?

By: Mire

Mire — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:46:08 +0000

I find Mars very interesting, thanks for keeping us up to date :D

By: Donkey Punch

Donkey Punch — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:06:13 +0000

(giggles) Beet said probe.

By: long dong silver

long dong silver — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:48:47 +0000

Love this stuff, watched it live as it happened via the nasa site, really cool stuff!!!!

By: BettyCrockerPunkRocker

BettyCrockerPunkRocker — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:04:33 +0000

I had a great book when I was a kid, about humans going to live on Mars in bubble colonies, only to find that the Martians were still there, living underground! I gave that book away, but man, I wish I hadn’t. Those martians could REALLY fold some laundry.

Okay, I added that last bit for the Beet. But it *was* a great book when I was seven.

By: wileEcoyote

wileEcoyote — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:56:13 +0000

cool stuff this , indeedy :):)
I`ve been glued to the JPL site for 4 yrs and have just about downloaded every single ‘raw’ image from Spirit and Opportuity. Kinda feels like you`re actually there ( mmmm…maybe I am!)

By: Evil Beet

Evil Beet — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:22:45 +0000

@tess:

I know — in fact, I almost took a job with JPL coding their missions three years ago — but this is the first time we’ve been able to reach the Arctic region, where scientists feel we will be most likely to find signs of life, if they do exist.

By: Magister

Magister — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:17:35 +0000

It’s gossip, but of the scientific variety, not the celeb variety, plus it’s reminds people of what else is out there. :) Thanks Beet. You rock!

By: tess

tess — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:56:10 +0000

you do realize we’ve been on Mars since 2004? NASA sent two rovers up to explore the planet. They weren’t expected to last very long, but they are still going strong!! Google “Spirit and Opportunity” for more info.

By: wileEcoyote

wileEcoyote — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:54:48 +0000

in the words of ‘Marvin the Martian’……
……”there goes the neighbourhood……again!”

By: Frankie

Frankie — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:40:09 +0000

@Anon
Hmmmmm, sounds interesting.
What’s your e-mail?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:19:32 +0000

woohoo!