T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Full story.
Fingers crossed then!
So many missions to Mars have gone wrong at the very last hurdle. Let's hope the Beagle completes its mission. It looks like it so far!
Beagle 2 successfully separates and begins descent into Mars
- Thread starter T & P
- Start date
Full story.
Fingers crossed then!
So many missions to Mars have gone wrong at the very last hurdle. Let's hope the Beagle completes its mission. It looks like it so far!Hmmm I really don't understand ONE thing recent thermal imaging has confirmed that the south polar cap on Mars consists of water and the upper polar cap is mainly carbon dioxide or C02... so why the hell are they not touching down on the edge of the water based ice cap or even the north one.
No ....they are touching down on the desert region which consisted many of acidic iron oxide.
...Hmmm...... if you are going to search for life search next to the water...
No ....they are touching down on the desert region which consisted many of acidic iron oxide.
...Hmmm...... if you are going to search for life search next to the water...
editor
hiraethified
Fingers crossed indeed - I'm really excited about the whole mission and love the idea of one of the most important announcements of all time - life being found on another planet - being relayed to the world's media in a strong West Country burr.
"Weeee've found loife, we ave!"
"Weeee've found loife, we ave!"
EastEnder
Brixton Barnacle
I so hope this mission works. Apart from being awesome having a successful Mars mission, it would be a testament to the low cost approach taken by ESA. It's cost barely a fraction of most NASA missions.
I guess we should know by Xmas morning whether the lander has survived. Will be a fuck of a lot more interesting than the Queens speech!
I guess we should know by Xmas morning whether the lander has survived. Will be a fuck of a lot more interesting than the Queens speech!
Tromaville
Substandard in every way
which is great until the lifeform sticks its head in the camera and announces: "Get orf mah laind"
Trom
dilute micro
esse quam videri
That's a good question. I think the idea is that Mars once had lots of water and a climate that could have suited life. All this stemmed from Crick's origin of life theory that life on earth might have come from somewhere else and Mars turns out to be the best candidate. When the solar system was formed Mars would have cooled faster than Earth. And it would have had the right climate before Earth. Since it costs so much to send something up to investigate Mars it's better to study a greater expanse of time than maybe a one shot chance that life still exists in the watery regions (I'm guessing).Originally posted by Iainmc
Hmmm I really don't understand ONE thing recent thermal imaging has confirmed that the south polar cap on Mars consists of water and the upper polar cap is mainly carbon dioxide or C02... so why the hell are they not touching down on the edge of the water based ice cap or even the north one.
No ....they are touching down on the desert region which consisted many of acidic iron oxide.
...Hmmm...... if you are going to search for life search next to the water...
EastEnder
Brixton Barnacle
I seem to remember reading that environmental & geological factors play a huge part in determining the landing site. IIRC most Mars missions head for equatorial areas - usually flat plains. With a success rate for Mars missions of only 30%, I guess you need to pick the safest possible landing area.
Also, wouldn't there be issues with communication with the orbiter? Maybe a polar landing would make it harder to find a convenient orbit that would keep lander and orbiter in easy contact.
Also, wouldn't there be issues with communication with the orbiter? Maybe a polar landing would make it harder to find a convenient orbit that would keep lander and orbiter in easy contact.
G. Fieendish
Snark Hunter
With the 2 U.S Orbiters, following in January, + the one already in orbit (Mars Odyssey), there Should be no problem with recieving any Beagle Telemetery. Additionally, the Radio telescope at Jodrell Bank could recieve signals directly from Beagle 2 !
Yours, Grimley
P.S The Japanese Orbiter Nozumi, has malfunctioned & as a result, has been sent "away" from Mars to avoid "Contaminating" the Martian surface...
Yours, Grimley
P.S The Japanese Orbiter Nozumi, has malfunctioned & as a result, has been sent "away" from Mars to avoid "Contaminating" the Martian surface...
what time is it meant to land, on christmas morning?
I remember reading (after I asked the question) that it would land at 6.30, apparently. whichever way, I'll be fast asleep, unlike all them years ago....but I'll keep up with the news later on that day.
I hope we are not trying to convert the martians, are we
?
I hope we are not trying to convert the martians, are we
?G. Fieendish
Snark Hunter
No, but the American's Might ...!
The U.S Mars landers are "Officially" called Spirit &
Opporturnity
Unofficially, though, the rover's are called Marvin & Daffy!
(But, will they find "Shaving Foam" on Mars, I ask Myself...?)
Yours, Wondering if "Lemons Are On Sale Again...?"
Grimley
P.S The Bookies have now reduced the odds on finding
"Life On Mars" from 33/1 to 25/1.
The U.S Mars landers are "Officially" called Spirit &
Opporturnity
Unofficially, though, the rover's are called Marvin & Daffy!
(But, will they find "Shaving Foam" on Mars, I ask Myself...?)
Yours, Wondering if "Lemons Are On Sale Again...?"
Grimley
P.S The Bookies have now reduced the odds on finding
"Life On Mars" from 33/1 to 25/1.
editor
hiraethified
Apparently, there is no Christmas Day live coverage of this event whatsoever on any TV channel, anywhere.
And that's a real fucking disgrace seeing as it's Britain's first ever interplanetary mission which just might produce one of the most important discoveries in the entire history of humankind.
And that's a real fucking disgrace seeing as it's Britain's first ever interplanetary mission which just might produce one of the most important discoveries in the entire history of humankind.
That's terrible.
As to the possibility of finding life - isn't Beagle 2, like any other spacecraft, completely covered with bacterial spores from Earth anyway? Surely it will irrevocably contaminate Mars when it lands, making it impossible to determine whether any microbial life subsequently detected is native or not.
editor
hiraethified
Absolutely not: Beagle was built at the Open University in Milton Keynes in a specially constructed sterile assembly area.
Incidentally, a malfunctioning Japanese Mars probe (not sterilised for a planet landing) has been redirected away from the planet for fear of contamination.
As well as the fascinating possibility of discovering life on another planet this whole programme has been of genealogical interest to me because I am 4th cousin once removed to Colin Pillinger.
Our common ancestor Thomas Garland was a coal miner of Kingswood near Bristol and died in 1835. His wife Hester a washer woman died in 1854.
His sister Pat is a very well known local historian who has documented the deaths in coal mining accidents of kingswood miners in a series of books called Killed in a coal pit. Also she has done a book the Annals of Kingswood which documents working class events of the area from newspapers etc.
Royston Vasey was not half as local as Kingswood I can tell you.
Our common ancestor Thomas Garland was a coal miner of Kingswood near Bristol and died in 1835. His wife Hester a washer woman died in 1854.
His sister Pat is a very well known local historian who has documented the deaths in coal mining accidents of kingswood miners in a series of books called Killed in a coal pit. Also she has done a book the Annals of Kingswood which documents working class events of the area from newspapers etc.
Royston Vasey was not half as local as Kingswood I can tell you.
I demand my money back. I certainly remember the images coming from a certain martian rover, a few years ago, bumping into now famous stones.
Unfortunately there was no signal received this morning. There will, apparently, be another chance to pick it up (if it's there) late this evening.
farmerbarleymow
I'm Petee's spirit animal
Fingers crossed Jodrell Bank will pick up the signal tonight.
not what I heard on the radio at one
but then again there is hope.whatever mede that face on mars doesn't want to be found. they waited for beagle to land, wandered over and turned it off.
i like to think that beagle is a bit of a drama queen, ramping up the tension a bit, after all, it worked hard to get there, won't give up the goodies too easily.
anytime now it'll start singing, just like that.
best of luck to colin and the crew
i like to think that beagle is a bit of a drama queen, ramping up the tension a bit, after all, it worked hard to get there, won't give up the goodies too easily.
anytime now it'll start singing, just like that.
best of luck to colin and the crew
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