Thanks!
Great recap!
(even though we all know that all of the "Curiosity" stuff was actually happening in a Mexican desert.)
In a year dominated by Martian news, the pioneering Earthling spirit of one Elon Musk and the hunt for a second human home also grabbed some cosmic headlines. Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity rover and skycrane The year started with Curiosity's journey to the Red Planet, dodging solar flares as it thrust its way towards …
Little known fact: The Mayans are still here. In fact, in Mexico alone, there are over 6 million Mayans!
Basically, one day they just said "Screw the government, I'm going home!", left the cities, and went back to living in small villages.
Their take on the whole Apocalypse froo-frah? "Crazy gringoes."
In fact, they're looking forward to the new grand cycle, since it's supposed to be a new era of prosperity and enlightenment.
(That would've made for lousy Doomsday headlines, though. "Mayans Predict Good Times Coming")
<pedantry>
I've two problems (aside from the personality defects I'd thank you not to mention)...
a) 2012 is a leap year so there are 366 days for the calendar year, not 365.
b) at time of publishing only 357 of them had elapsed
so either this review excludes part of 2012, or includes part of 2011
</pedantry>
"Twenty metres above the surface, we have to lower the rover below us on a tether that's 21 feet long, and then gently deposit it on its wheels on the surface," engineer Adam Steltzner said. "It is the result of reasoned engineering thought, but it still looks crazy."
Umm, 21 feet is about 6.5 metres? Something doesn't quite add up there, or did they use elastic or bungy cord?
Bugger, now I'm going to have the image of a bungy-jumping Curiosity bouncing up and down in the back of my mind all day...
No mention of the Kerbal Space Program?