Silly question, are sounds audible on Mars? Are all those whirrs gonna be for real? Does the craft have a microphone, I mean, we need to learn their language don't we?
Yes, sounds are audible on Mars (or anywhere else with an atmosphere) but as the atmosphere is thinner they would seem very quiet to us. I don't think Curiosity has a microphone, the only spacecraft I know that had one is Huygens that landed on Saturn's moon Titan.
el capitano, that's what prompted my silly question. What was the point of the sound in the animation? Still reckon there should be a microphone to capture the sound of the natives squabbling over which bits to nick.
I'm pretty sure I have heard a clip of the wind sound on Mars from one of the probes,one shall googalize. Found this but cant find the actual sound, Mars Polar Lander - Mars Microphone
Last edited by tony draper; 4th Aug 2012 at 19:49.
One of NASA's least proud moments in terms of Mars missions.
Which brings up a serious question, out of all the Mar's missions, just how have really went as planned and how many have failed?
Seems like more have failed on the Mar's missions than any other. I can remember some that were never heard from again from the time they entered the Martian atmosphere and other that landed, worked for a bit, then they were never heard from again.
Now I'm saying that there are little green men nicking all the stuff we sent there, although that would funny, but perhaps there is something in the Martian atmosphere we are not aware of, that is shutting down our equipment?
Counting all Soviet/Russian, U.S., European, and Japanese attempts, more than half of Mars missions have failed, either because of some botched rocket launch on Earth or a systems malfunction en route to or at the planet. The success rate for actually landing on the Martian surface is even worse, roughly 30 percent. However, three out of four US-made rovers have successfully landed.
out of all the Mar's missions, just how have really went as planned and how many have failed?
As I recall Con the USSR were very successful with its Venera series of probes sent to Venus but none of theirs were successful to Mars which has mainly an atmosphere of CO2 and far less hostile than Venus. Maybe the Martians don't like commies.
The analysis of The Great Dust Storm of 1971 could account for failures if any probe were to land in a storm of similar magnitude, but I got a feeling it may have something to do with Mars's very weak magnetic field.
All these probes I think are in preparation for a manned landing someday - if there's any water known to be around it would certainly help.
I have two alarms set...and am determined not to miss witness the arrival. The 14min wait after the due-landing time is going to be a tough one. Can't imagine what it must be like for those who had invested careers and hopes/dreams in actually building Curiosity and seeing the mission get this far.
Lots of thoughts, prayers and crossed fingers between now and tomorrow morning!
Apparently this is what we can expect to see from first pictures.
Last edited by brockenspectre; 5th Aug 2012 at 12:49.
The analysis of The Great Dust Storm of 1971 could account for failures if any probe were to land in a storm of similar magnitude, but I got a feeling it may have something to do with Mars's very weak magnetic field.
Naw it's the Martian Pikies getting better at stripping them for scrap.
One of NASA's least proud moments in terms of Mars missions.
