Topic: NASA Mars Spacecraft Nears Orbit.... (Read 1463 times)

Fedman NCC-3758 · « **on:** February 25, 2006, 10:02:59 pm »

Posted Feb 25, 2006

A NASA Mars bound spacecraft is getting close to the end of its seven-month journey but still faces a few obstacles during its arrival.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, or MRO, is on course to enter orbit on March 10. If successful, it will spend the next two years photographing the surface and scouting for future landing sites.

The spacecraft is performing so well that engineers have canceled two final maneuvers to adjust its course in the last leg of the trip, said James Graf, project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

The greatest challenge of the $720-million mission is yet to come. Within the last 15 years, NASA has lost two spacecraft during the orbit-insertion phase around Mars.

Engineers hope the two-ton Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has journeyed nearly 300 million miles, will not suffer the same fate.

On March 10, the NASA spacecraft will fire its thrusters to slow down so that it can be caught by Mars' gravity.

http://www.gameshout.com/news/022006/article3360.htm

S'Raek · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2006, 11:51:03 am »

If we're not careful those Martians are going to get tired of knocking down our satelites and they're going to come here and make us stop sending them!

Hope the orbit part goes well.

E_Look · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2006, 01:30:14 pm »

Look at that prominent feature on the center of the planetary disk, guys:

looks like an aircraft carrier with two fighters buzzing overhead.

*

Sorry, I guess, I'm still kind of terrestrial.

Fedman NCC-3758 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2006, 02:32:41 pm »

Now compare that barren rock to Earth..........

I always marvel how evolution worked that out.

S'Raek · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2006, 07:56:54 pm »

Quote from: Fedman NCC-3758 on February 27, 2006, 02:32:41 pm

Now compare that barren rock to Earth..........

I always marvel how evolution worked that out.

All just random chance man, random chance.......

Fedman NCC-3758 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:08:44 pm »

But it gets better.........

The mindless, purposeless process has done it all......... flawlessly.

No wonder it's worshiped.

Thought, logic and reason never existed until it evolved. Sure.

Just plain old Punisher · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:35:51 pm »

Quote from: E_Look NCC-9091 on February 27, 2006, 01:30:14 pm

Look at that prominent feature on the center of the planetary disk, guys:

looks like an aircraft carrier with two fighters buzzing overhead.

*

Sorry, I guess, I'm still kind of terrestrial.

I think it looks like the pockmarked face of a 35 year old star trek fan who loves snickers bars, but hates personal hygene...and lives in his parents basement.

Fedman NCC-3758 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:45:07 pm »

Quote from: Punisher NCC-2000 on February 27, 2006, 08:35:51 pm

Quote from: E_Look NCC-9091 on February 27, 2006, 01:30:14 pm
Look at that prominent feature on the center of the planetary disk, guys:

looks like an aircraft carrier with two fighters buzzing overhead.

*

Sorry, I guess, I'm still kind of terrestrial.

I think it looks like the pockmarked face of a 35 year old star trek fan who loves snickers bars, but hates personal hygene...and lives in his parents basement.

Yeah but, we still love ya Pun.

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