Giant NASA Rover Launches to Mars

Monster

Monster

Part Of The Furniture
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BBC article

Nasa has launched the most capable machine ever built to land on Mars.

The near one-tonne rover, tucked inside a capsule, left Florida on an Atlas 5 rocket at 10:02 local time (15:02 GMT).

Nicknamed Curiosity, the rover will take eight and a half months to cross the vast distance to its destination.

If it can land safely next August, the robot will then scour Martian soils and rocks for any signs that current or past environments on the planet could have supported microbial life.
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Thanks! :)

I'm glad they managed to launch it. I hope landing next year will be successful. I'm really curious about Mars, and I'd like to learn more about it. This new rover could bring in a lot of new information. :)
 
This is the first I've heard about this. I'm glad that space exploration hasn't died. Wouldn't it be fascinating that within five years someone will be taking their first step on the red planet.
 
rosebud said:
This is the first I've heard about this. I'm glad that space exploration hasn't died. Wouldn't it be fascinating that within five years someone will be taking their first step on the red planet.
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Yeah, that'd be awesome!! :)

There's a lot of things going on, but first humans on Mars is probably not going to happen before 2020 or 2030 ... the only ones currently that would have enough money and resources would be the Chinese. I hope that countries will co-operate more on space projects. China plans its own space station, but it can't hurt to have two, I guess. ;)

The rover the US sent up now is partially automatic and remote-controlled.
 
Humans are curious by nature. But it's still incredible that missions to outer space are considered by some as more important as opposed to helping those who aren't getting anything to eat today even in the richest nation on Earth.

Some point out that they'd still be major unresolved problems on our planet even if we as a society elected to spend more to help people instead. However, the fact is that while they'd still be issues, the poor would still benefit from money being spent more wisely.
 
The thing is, that a proper space industry that would create lots of travel inside the solar system and mine resources etc. would be able to solve most, if not all unemployment issues on Earth.

So, space industry is vital to solve our problems here on Earth. Because economical growth on Earth is limited, in space, it's unlimited.
 
Where is Curiosity?
After its successful launch on Nov. 26, 2011, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover is in its Cruise Phase on its way to Mars! The trip from Earth to Mars will take about 36 weeks (254 days).

Cruise ends when the spacecraft is 45 days from entry into the Martian atmosphere, when the Approach Phase begins.

Follow Curiosity on her journey, through these simulated views, which are updated daily.

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/
 
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