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back to article NASA picks three Martian wet patches for 2020 splashdown

NASA has decided its Mars 2020 mission will land a rover in one of three places, all of which are thought to have once seen liquid water flowing. While the rest of us spent last week tut-tutting about IBM's teleworking turnaround, NASA boffins gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Monrovia, CA, where they conducted a workshop to …

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  1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Go

    Exciting times.

    Although I'd quite like them to investigate the source of the Methane plume that's been dumping more than 250 tonnes of Methane in the atmosphere for some time.

    4 0 Reply
    1. AndyS
      Reply Icon

      Re: Exciting times.

      How far through those 250 tonnes is it? Is it nearly finished? Is this a one-off, or is it going to do it again? Which planet is this happening on?

      There are so many questions to answer. Someone should definitely send a probe.

      3 0 Reply
    2. allthecoolshortnamesweretaken
      Reply Icon

      Re: methane plume

      Two words: space cows.

      7 0 Reply
      1. Potemkine Silver badge
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        Re: methane plume

        You mean Buggalos?

        1 0 Reply
  2. Neil Barnes Silver badge
    Coat

    If they're planning on landing in Mars' Grympen Myre

    Does that make the Rover the Hound of the Marskervilles?

    --> the one with the Collected Works in the pocket, thanks!

    3 0 Reply
  3. EddieD

    Fast rocket....

    If the launch was 2020, I'd expect the splashdown to be 2024 or so...

    1 3 Reply
    1. cray74
      Reply Icon

      Re: Fast rocket....

      If the launch was 2020, I'd expect the splashdown to be 2024 or so...

      Typical transits of Mars missions have been about 7-9 months, not 4 years. Curiosity launched in November 2011 and arrived in August 2012. Spirit launched in June 2003 and landed in January 2004. Opportunity launched in July 2003 and landed in late January 2004. Sojourner was launched in December 1996 and landed July 1997.

      5 0 Reply
    2. hplasm
      Reply Icon
      Holmes

      Re: Fast rocket....

      If there was a splashdown, then that would indicate water, so the probe wouldn't need to go...

      3 0 Reply
  4. caffeine addict

    Mars is red,

    Water is blue

    NASA's long term plans

    For getting wet too...?

    7 0 Reply
    1. DNTP
      Reply Icon

      Iron Oxide is red

      Rayleigh scattering is blue

      There's a face on Mars

      Its looking at you

      3 0 Reply
  5. hatti

    Roses are red,

    Mars is not blue,

    Damon is stuck there,

    Farming with poo.

    8 0 Reply
    1. John 104
      Reply Icon
      Coat

      @hatti

      After that dismal performance in The Martian, we could only hope he was stuck there.

      Then again, if he was stuck there, when the probe arrived, he could science the shit out of it and find answers to all of our questions.

      ~mines the one with the copy of Solaris in the pocket.

      3 0 Reply
  6. rastuss

    Roll the planet in flour and look for the wet spot...

    3 0 Reply

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