To orbit or bust

March 10, 2006 11:12 AM

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is due to arrive today. The Orbiter, launched back last August, is set to begin its slow down for Mars orbit at 3:50 pm EST. Its mission will be to study the planet's atmosphere, surface, and underground. Courtesy of NASA, you can track its relative position to mars every ten minutes, download a podcast, and pass your time waiting with a series of informative videos. The orbiter also has the most powerful camera ever to leave Earth orbit.
posted by Atreides (31 comments total)

but, but the starving masses! Ok, I jest. pretty cool, today is also my SOs b-day.
posted by edgeways at 11:16 AM on March 10, 2006

25cm per vertical pixel? I want my Google Mars!
posted by furtive at 11:38 AM on March 10, 2006

You can literally submit a request for imaging for the camera. That's incredible. The public may also be involved in image validation. Reminds me of the open-source surveillance featured in the on-line comic The Spiders.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:44 AM on March 10, 2006

I like how they point out on the "relative position to mars" link that the graphics are SIMULATED. You mean we don't have a camera 2 AU from the Sun, along the Solar System's z-axis? Damn.

This is cool.
posted by teece at 11:44 AM on March 10, 2006

damnit edgeways, you beat me to the caustic, ironic "But what about our problems here on earth?" remark. Damn you to HELL!
posted by slatternus at 11:47 AM on March 10, 2006

teece, my favorite is the one of Earth, with the "closeup view." See, it really is Earth!
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:49 AM on March 10, 2006

edgeways, slatternus - dont tell it to jon-kill. Please.
posted by zoinks at 11:51 AM on March 10, 2006

(- = _)
posted by zoinks at 11:52 AM on March 10, 2006

My fingers are very crossed for the MRO. You can also observe the orbital insertion by tracking the Doppler shift on the orbiter's transmissions, which is pretty damn cool.

But I'm not your SO, edgeways!
posted by Songdog at 11:55 AM on March 10, 2006

"NASA is planning a manned expidtion to Mars --- the Red planet. For scientific purposes they claim, but this time they're bringing back more than just rock samples. Much more. You see, NASA is just a front for the Masonic Red Order...and the Order is itself is a front for the cult of AVESTRIEL: Terrible Red Angel. NASA is bringing something back... something Red."
posted by blue_beetle at 12:01 PM on March 10, 2006

blue_beetle, that would be even funnier if not for the fact that there are people out there who really do believe that sort of thing...
posted by slatternus at 12:15 PM on March 10, 2006

I want my Google Mars!


Imagine the hysteria when that comes online.

Here's where a little green man walked/crapped/slept/grew vegetables/built a hot tub
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:28 PM on March 10, 2006

*drools in anticipation*
posted by Smedleyman at 12:30 PM on March 10, 2006

People like jon-kill are the reason we don't have a moonbase yet.
posted by slatternus at 12:33 PM on March 10, 2006

People like jon-kill are the reason we don't have a moonbase yet.
posted by slatternus at 3:33 PM EST on March 10 [!]

Not to mention the accompanying moonbase chicks with purple wigs
posted by unreason at 12:53 PM on March 10, 2006

tracking the Doppler shift on the orbiter's transmissions

OMG. That IS cool.

People like jon-kill are the reason we don't have a moonbase yet.

Wha... what do you mean we DON'T have a moonbase?

Quit pulling my leg like that. I bought a condo there four years ago. Guy said he call me when the next lunar pod was ... sched.. for... lift... HEEEEY! God damn it! Not again!

I predict the photos from the orbiter of the Martian surface will show the first signs of a flourishing fledgling Iraqi democracy.
posted by tkchrist at 1:14 PM on March 10, 2006

By the way, I couldn't find this earlier, but here's a page for streaming video of NASA Tv coverage at the JPL. Currently waiting for the littl' ol orbiter to come back around from the otherside of Mars.
posted by Atreides at 1:51 PM on March 10, 2006

Well, we've just gone into Loss of Signal as it goes around the backside of Mars, half an hour from now we'll know whether we have an orbiter in orbit or a several million dollar one shot deal. Let's all cross our fingers and send out 'positive orbit vibes' to MRO. . .
posted by mk1gti at 1:52 PM on March 10, 2006

I'm hoping we might finally have images showing how both Vikings are doing and what happened to the Polar Lander.
posted by mk1gti at 1:53 PM on March 10, 2006

...dogleg slew away from the sun. . .
posted by mk1gti at 1:55 PM on March 10, 2006

Whoooooo HOooooooo! ! ! I can breathe easy, Reaquisition of Signal ! ! ! Yipppeeeee ! ! !
posted by mk1gti at 2:18 PM on March 10, 2006

yay!
posted by bshort at 2:20 PM on March 10, 2006

We got orbit, I repeat, we got orbit. Woot.
posted by Atreides at 2:26 PM on March 10, 2006

Successful orbit.
posted by bshort at 2:26 PM on March 10, 2006

just confirmed they have orbit around the planet Mars! Huzzah Cheeeaaahhhhssss! ! !
posted by mk1gti at 2:26 PM on March 10, 2006

gee, I don't know, do you think we have orbit? (^_^)
posted by mk1gti at 2:27 PM on March 10, 2006

Most excellent news!
posted by Songdog at 2:27 PM on March 10, 2006

Time to break open the taps, mix some drinks, and celebrate ! ! !
posted by mk1gti at 2:28 PM on March 10, 2006

just heard someone in the background 'Uh yeah, I'll buy the beer.'
posted by mk1gti at 2:29 PM on March 10, 2006

The thing I wished they talk more about is the fact that MRO will supply a 6 Mbps connection between the Earth and Mars. And that's just to start. I've heard rumors that they can do some tricks at get up to 50 Mbps! (If you're unfamiliar, standard 'broadband' is around 1-2 Mbps)
posted by todbot at 7:04 PM on March 10, 2006

Dang, if they can do that, we can look forward to some sweet Mars imaging lovin' (stands by anxiously in my sexiest nightie and garters). Perhaps I should shave my back hair, just to be safe. . .
posted by mk1gti at 7:25 PM on March 10, 2006