Re: NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit
 

All-

On behalf of the entire Mars Exploration Rover team, thank you very much for the comments and messages! It has been an absolutely incredible 43 months to get to last night, and all of us are in a bit of a state of shock over how well it went. To say that we are exstatic over the performance of the system so far is about as big an understatement as you can make! The most difficult and highest risk part of the mission has now passed, and we are starting to get ready to have the rover stand up, drive off the lander, and start doing the science we came to do.

On a personal level, this is something that I have been working towards for the last 21 years. And right now, I can tell you that it has been worth it! For all those that have wondered if the values, message, and purpose behind things like FIRST can really help make a difference, I think that this mission will be a sterling example of how engineering and science really can be exciting and inspirational. FIRST didn't exist when I was in high school, but I was still able to discover early on that solving hard problems is fun and the big challenges are the ones that are worth attacking. I hope that in some way, this project will offer another example of how that is true, and a few more people will get turned on to the idea that they can make a difference, and can have a good time doing it.

One special note: for all those that want to follow along as the mission progresses, get a copy of Maestro. This is the public version of the exact software that we are using to display the images and science data returned by the rover, and to generate the rover commands. Right now, if you download a copy, it is currently populated with data from our pre-landing tests. But over the next few days and weeks, we will release updated data sets of the actual Spirit (and eventual Opportunity) science data that can be plugged in to the software. So you can come and explore Mars right along with the science team, using the same software tools they are using!

I am not sure how disturbing it is to know that I am recognized by the back of my head!!! :D

-dave

p.s. just wait until you see the color images... :D

Re: NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit
 

Very cool program Dave, it looks like it should become even better when it's updated with the new data sets. I'll give one warning though, it seems to be a system hog (so it's probably not for people w/ 56k or slow computers).

Congrats and good luck with Opportunity.

Re: NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit
 

I know the shot he's talking about, and I had a hard time deciding if it was actually you or one of those big fuzzy microphones :p

This mission has been the most exciting, interesting mission for me so far, mainly because of knowing someone directly involved and occasionally getting to see things like the prototype wheel Wetzel sports as a hat and the mini rover replica in person. It makes it all more real seeming, not just some far off thing people more intelligent than I did. And I'm looking forward to a day when some of the names of students here start showing up involved in missions such as this.

Heidi

Re: NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit
 

Thanks for the special note dlavery

Thank you Dave!
 

It already has worked Dave. I know I speak for many when I say thank you for all that you have done for our global society and for all of us as people. Because of people like you and FIRST, I'm a different teacher and a different person.

For the past several weeks, my two sons (aged 1 and 3) have been watching Mars project videos (along with old FIRST match video) with great interest. The little guy points to the screen saying, "Bobots!!" while his brother sits in an empty box and asks me to count down so he can blast off to Mars. I love rolling around on the floor and playing ball with my sons, but because of this program something else has been added to our relationship - a love for exploration and an understanding that anyone can be anything they want to be.

This morning, when I told my oldest that one of the robots made it to Mars last night he was very excited and spent a large portion of the saying, "Dad, I want to see it bounce again....Dad I want to see it fold out again...."

Yeah Dave, you certainly make a difference and in more ways than you can imagine.

Color Images
 

The first color images are in!



http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/index.html

I highly suggest looking at the large one. It's quite big, but the detail is amazing.

EDIT: Also check out this website:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Mars

It was just featured on TechTV: Call for Help and it has some very interesting pictures.

Re: NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit
 

NASA removed the direct link on their site to the large image because of high demand, but it is still there.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...a/PIA04995.jpg

Those of you on a dial up beware, its 8.5 megs.


Wetzel