NASA rover finds evidence of water flowing on Mars NASA's famous robot rover Opportunity, still prowling the haematite steppes of the Meridiani Planum on Mars seven years after setting down, appears to have discovered concrete evidence that liquid water once flowed across the surface of the red planet. The 'Homestake' gypsum vein on Mars, imaged by rover Opportunity. Credit: …
The timing of todays news item is brilliant. Watched a documentary of the Rovers last night and it was absolutely fascinating. I think my wife actually got bored of me pausing it every few minutes to tell the story before they did!
Probably didn't help that we also MST3000'd the documentary, but hey.
Brilliant stuff. Pity the documentary only had the first 3.5 years of the Rovers lives though. Thought it ended a but early.
First, I want to say that this is the first I've heard of this discovery, so "The Register" scooped everyone from my perspective.
As for which rover will last longer, I expect Curiosity could well last a decade, assuming it doesn't suffer mechanical failure. After all, the Viking landers did. Curiosity is quite the robust machine; large, with several radioactive heaters (even Opportunity has those), much more massive and better to withstand harsh conditions. Opportunity can last only as long as its battery can hold out, which probably isn't as long as a thermonuclear power source. The reason that Opportunity's electronics haven't frozen solid, yet, is exactly because of its plutonium heaters (and excellent insulation, with some help from whatever sunlight it can get).
I have to say this gets to me every time - probably I'm not the only one who was watching the MSL launch last weekend shouting "Yes!" at the screen when we saw the fantastic live video of separation from the booster. Don't forget to keep following the story about the efforts to reactivate Prospero...................
Nowt wrong with Boffin, especially in this context.
My job title at Bigger Blue was "Boffin at Large"; it was even on my business cards (only because they wouldn't let me use my preferred "Chief Cook & Bottle Washer"). My actual position? Floating Senior Member of the Technical Staff. I wandered from department to department, putting out fires.
From the World English Dictionary
eclectic (ɪˈklɛktɪk, ɛˈklɛk-) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
— adj
1. (in art, philosophy, etc) selecting what seems best from various styles, doctrines, ideas, methods, etc
2. composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, styles, etc
— n
3. a person who favours an eclectic approach, esp in art or philosophy
Seems to me that an idiot cannot be eclectic, since he won't have sufficient culture to choose from. So that's a compliment then.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/08/mythbusters_mythfire_cannon/
"Today, Citizen Shhajelpaex and I will discredit the myth that smooth bore cannonballs have unexpected and strange ballistics when fired into a sloped surface. We are so confident that we can discredit this myth that we are completely unconcerned that the Chairman Xcm'kealthds Memorial Life Support and and Thermonuclear Complex is downrange from our test site!
<BANG!!!!!!!>
OH SHIT!!!!! Turn off the camer...."
"We are experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by....."
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