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Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

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Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#91

Post by midasuni »

joeyh wrote: post #53

This was recorded by a computer running Linux, using ffmpeg. Embedded Intel system with fairly stock cameras. "the first open source linux box running on the surface of Mars" "thank you to the open source community for allowing us to use your amazing software" Per their press conference today, in the Q&A section. https://youtu.be/gYQwuYZbA6o?t=4025

30 years ago

“ I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready”

I think it’s more than a hobby now...

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#93

Post by midasuni »

netcraft wrote: post #7

So glad they've realized the value in allowing everyone to experience how hard these things are. So impressive, I can't wait to watch this video over and over. The inflation of the parachute is spectacular, and knowing how hard it is, and how hard it is to test on earth - its just incredible. And the skycrane was flawless - just so impressive how well it works. Too bad it flies off to crash and can't land gently some…

SpaceX broadcasts really raised the bar on what the public expect from space, and with it brought a lot of excitement. Great that scientific program is following in those footsteps.

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#94

Post by soheil »

spookthesunset wrote: post #31

As it got closer to the ground, it seemed really hard to get a sense of scale with that downward camera. It felt like the ground just kind of "appeared" right before the sky crane did its thing. How big are the rocks under it? It felt like they were either big (1+ meter) or just little pebbles. I really couldn't tell. Either way, this is seriously the coolest video I think I've ever seen. I cannot wait for more.

Yes, something about not having the right perspective from the camera makes it very hard to judge how close it is to the surface. I guess sometimes I get the same feeling when in an airplane landing and going over water, SFO is a good example.

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#95

Post by HarHarVeryFunny »

donarb wrote: post #43
rtkwe wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It got sent back via orbiters ranging from the ESA's Trace Gas orbiter, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or Mars Odyssey. Through those they can get up to 2 megabits per second [0] back to earth but that depends a lot on the orbiter it's talking to at a given time. The TGO is doing a lot and is one of the early high speed relays for the data from Perseverance. [1] There's also direct links to and from Earth but they'r…

The more impressive part is that the sky crane shot pictures, video and data and had to download everything to the rover before it was cut loose. As soon as the rover wheels touched ground, the tether was cut and the lander flew away.

I'd like to know how they cut/released the tether, and if there's any fallback in case 1st release attempt fails. The entire mission is fucked if the tether release failed, or if the sky crane tries to fly away while still tethered.

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#98

Post by cphajduk »

holoduke wrote: post #35
aphextron wrote: post #10

As incredible as this footage is, it's even more mindblowing to realize we've been doing this for 50 years now. We know how to land on mars. Time to do it with people.

Whats the point of doing it with humans. Robots are getting better every year. Humans not really. Robots will most likely first build an settlement on mars before humans will arrive.

The insight mission, which landed in 2018 has failed to stick a thermometer in the ground over the last 2 years.

A human with a rock/hammer could have accomplished the same thing in an hour, conservatively a day at most.

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#99

Post by tus89 »

I would have loved to see the upwards view of the delivery drone from the rover to see it control boosters slowing and controlling the descent. It's still an amazing progress from the original delivery mechanism (big bouncy airbags). Back then controlled drone technology was considered sci-fi...now anyone can have it in their backyard.

Re: Perseverance rover’s descent and touchdown on Mars [video]

#100

Post by HarHarVeryFunny »

ro2nie wrote: post #87
spookthesunset wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rewatched listening to all that and it helped but only in an abstract way. It's like there needs to be a penny in the shot or something to get a sense of scale.

No, not a penny. It needs a banana for scale

In deep space the banana would be frozen rock solid and would likely shatter if dropped. So, it seems the sky crane lowers the rover, and the rover lowers the banana.
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