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[keptin]

Update: SUCCESS!





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2000lbs and as big as a Mini Cooper  



Curiosity lands tonight at 10:30pm PST, with live coverage starting at 8pm PST on NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
Live java simulation of landing to watch in tandem with NASA TV: http://eyes.nasa.gov/launch2.html?document=$SERVERURL/content/documents/msl/edl.xml


The 7 Minutes of Terror landing video:
A more detailed animation of how it will land using the first ever "sky crane" method:
As crazy as this all looks, NASA has a 100% Mars landing success rate since 1999.


I'm so excited, I hope more than anything that it succeeds!  Share your thoughts!

[Upgradecap]

Wow, that's awesome and all, but I can't wait until day when we invent ftl transportation systems

[keptin]

Kids these days...

They have the most amazing robots and computers and they want FTL drives.

[K-64]

Better wanting FTL drives than something entirely short-sighted for humanity.

On topic though, that is rather impressive, although is it doing much in the way of reliably and efficiently getting people off the ground and into the stars? I seriously think a commercially accessible form of space travel and colonisation should be the utmost priority for anything these days. We know we can get up there, now we just need to stay up there, as opposed to slowly stagnate on Earth, which is pretty much all that's happening right now

[CrashToDesktop]

Ah, been waiting for the landing for a while now.  One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

[keptin]

although is it doing much in the way of reliably and efficiently getting people off the ground and into the stars?

I'd say hell yes, it's testing a planet landing system that might be the primary method to land sensitive heavy payloads and is generally pushing the envelope of robotics tech.

[Psiyon]

I hope to God it works.

I figure it's got a pretty good chance though, considering Russia didn't build it
(I feel sorry for Russia, though--so many failed attempts.)



@K-64:

While I totally agree with you on your desire to get off Earth, you have to understand that all that is still pretty far off. Most humans need an incentive other than the sake of exploration and knowledge to get something done. In fact, this image from today's Cracked article says it all:



So until it becomes economically feasible to start strip-mining every celestial body in our solar system, we aren't going anywhere.

[Upgradecap]

Kids these days...

They have the most amazing robots and computers and they want FTL drives.

Yep, because robots and great computers don't mean the same thing as being able to explore the infinite gulf we call space.

[keptin]

I feel sorry for Russia, though--so many failed attempts.

When a spacecraft fails, I feel bad not just for those involved, but for the potential knowledge lost that all human's could have gained.  Russia is, as far as I'm concerned, on par with the US at the cutting edge of space tech.  I think more than anything the way they plan mission budget's, by not putting all their eggs in one basket, contributes to their higher number of failures.  Admittedly, the recent Phobos-Grunt spacecraft was pretty rough 

[Psiyon]

I feel sorry for Russia, though--so many failed attempts.

When a spacecraft fails, I feel bad not just for those involved, but for the potential knowledge lost that all human's could have gained. 

...

Admittedly, the recent Phobos-Grunt spacecraft was pretty rough 

Definitely true, I do feel the same way. I was just pointing out that Russia's record was less-than stellar. I remember feeling terrible when Phobos-Grunt fell back to Earth--could have been an amazing mission. A damn shame it didn't even have a chance to begin.

[Thaago]

Down safe and sound!

Here's to skycranes! * toast *

[keptin]

I can finally breath again!  That was tense!

Amazing work by JPL and NASA.  Best case scenario EDL w/ pictures and all!

[Psiyon]

I can finally breath again!  That was tense!

WOOO. Man, I hear you. Watching it in NASA's Eyes on the Solar System program didn't make it any easier.

Surprised they got the images so fast after touchdown.

[armoredcookie]

Ate some peanuts just for NASA tonight

[Mattk50]

successful landing!