NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit

[dlavery]

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!

Originally Posted by FotoPlasma

While watching a live feed from some control center or another, I immediately recognized the back of Dave Lavery's head, shortly before the front of it.

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

-dave

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