The Heat shield was dropped due to it blocking all of the Tools on the bottom of the rover. Without the heat shield there it was able to see where it was going. As stated above it was only used for the atmospheric heat.

source:

Kilby

Finland1069 Posts

September 28 2012 20:15 GMT

#1062

On September 28 2012 17:35 AlgeriaT wrote:

Show nested quote +

Hairs. Standing. Up.

Wow, seems like that is pretty definitive that there's been liquid water on Mars quite recently. I mean, there is erosion in the form of wind and dust storms so a site like this cannot be very old. Maybe decades or centuries at most?

a176

Canada6688 Posts

September 30 2012 03:44 GMT

#1063

http://www.europlanet-eu.org/outreach/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=392&Itemid=41

Preliminary weather reports from the Curiosity’s Remote Environment Monitoring Station (REMS) are showing some surprisingly mild temperatures during the day. Average daytime air temperatures have reached a peak of 6 degrees Celsius at 2pm local time.

Le Cheque Zo

Spain133 Posts

October 20 2012 06:23 GMT

#1064

A lot of things happening in Curiosity now. OP needs to really be updated. The landing was only one part of the job you know, the most important thing is what we find there. Recently, shiny object were found. Scientists first thought it was residue from the space craft or the rover. Now they think it might be indigenous.

I am alone on this, or is there someone else here who won't be surprised at all if weeks/months from now NASA announces it finds life on Mars. I believe!

[image loading]

Probe1

United States17920 Posts

October 20 2012 06:26 GMT

#1065

No I would be very surprised. It would be a turning point for our entire species.

I hope we do find organic material but expecting it is like expecting to be hit by lightning 7 times as you walk out to your car in the morning. The only people that would be able to predict that one are the people that say it every time they leave the house.

Perfi

Poland349 Posts

October 20 2012 06:36 GMT

#1066

Hey, Le Cheque Zo, would you happen to have a source on that picture? I found a pretty cool animated .gif of the previously found piece of (probably) plastic), but I don't think that's the same thing as what you've just posted.
The .gif:
[image loading]

MaV_gGSC

Canada1345 Posts

October 20 2012 06:43 GMT

#1067

On October 20 2012 15:36 Perfi wrote:
Hey, Le Cheque Zo, would you happen to have a source on that picture? I found a pretty cool animated .gif of the previously found piece of (probably) plastic), but I don't think that's the same thing as what you've just posted.
The .gif:
[image loading]

That is so scary. Does it blow anyone elses mind? THATS a gif of rocks on ANOTHER planet. god damn science is awesome

ElvisWayCool

United States437 Posts

October 20 2012 06:56 GMT

#1068

That's gotta be from us some how. No way that was just sitting on Mars all this time and we find that but nothing else so far.

The pic from Le Cheque Zo is much more interesting though. Looks like a mineral or something, maybe? Hopefully we find life soon.

neggro

United States591 Posts

October 20 2012 06:58 GMT

#1069

Why is it moving? Is there wind on Mars?

On_Slaught

United States12190 Posts

October 20 2012 07:04 GMT

#1070

This article has a good explanation of both pictures on this page. The gif and the shiny object.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/10/curiosity-scoops-objects/

That new shiny crystal is called "schmutz."

Probe1

United States17920 Posts

October 20 2012 07:24 GMT

#1071

lol no Elvis, there has always been plastic on Mars. Plastic is a naturally occurring material.

nanoscorp

United States1237 Posts

October 30 2012 19:11 GMT

#1072

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/wiens3r.html

Most of the work these days looks to be analysis of samples and data from laser shots. I like this recent graphic and caption because it illustrates what kind of data they're pulling in, and what inferences they can make from there.

NicolBolas

United States1388 Posts

October 31 2012 00:10 GMT

#1073

When they do spectroscopy on Mars, does Curiosity have to get some of those clear salt plates and sandwich materials between them?

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

October 31 2012 01:58 GMT

#1074

In the first inventory of minerals on another planet, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity found soil that bears a striking resemblance to weathered, volcanic sand in Hawaii, scientists said on Tuesday.

The rover uses an X-ray imager to reveal the atomic structures of crystals in the Martian soil, the first time the technology, known as X-ray diffraction, has been used to analyze soil beyond Earth.

"This was a 22-year journey and a magical moment for me," NASA's David Blake, lead scientist for the rover's mineralogical instrument, told reporters during a conference call.

Curiosity found the Martian sand grains have crystals similar to basaltic soils found in volcanic regions on Earth, like Hawaii.

Scientists plan to use the information about Mars' minerals to figure out if the planet most like Earth in the solar system could have supported and preserved microbial life.

"The mineralogy of Mars' soil has been a source of conjecture until now," said Curiosity scientist David Vaniman of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona.

"This interest isn't just academic," he added. "Soils on planets' surfaces are a reflection of surface exposure processes and history, with information on present and past climates."

Source

a176

Canada6688 Posts

November 01 2012 20:29 GMT

#1075

XenOmega

Canada2822 Posts

November 01 2012 21:33 GMT

#1076

Space...

I wish I could be a space explorer.

But I guess, that'll have to wait for another life if there's such a thing XD

Truly amazing pictures. Make me wonder what more the universe has to offer

Ender985

Spain910 Posts

November 01 2012 22:25 GMT

#1077

On November 02 2012 05:29 a176 wrote:
[image loading]

Uhm.. who took that picture?