Welcome to Mars

There is a press conference starting on NASA tv right now.

One of the first images beamed back appear to show a pile of scrap metal ..

It is still unconfimed whether this is the UK's Beagle probe

dawlane

I don't think it's the Beagle probe. Looks like they have found a new place for a land-fill site. ;)

Phoenix landing, taken by MRO.

Awesome.

Wow, rocks... erm...

Barnabius

Yeah. Awesome. And makes one proud to be a member of human race. If only we can stop the stupid wars and spend all that money on space exploration, just imagine where we could've been already...

Barney

EdzUp[SD]

if we didnt have the dark ages we would be in space already

Nilium

Pretty interesting to see such a barren place.

#10

If only we can stop the stupid wars and spend all that money on space exploration, just imagine where we could've been already...

Ur anus :P

(ok, that one was way too easy ^_^)

Well, actually, that'd be it. Maybe Pluto, but that's not a fully compatible planet anymore these days. I don't think that all the war-money we've spent so far in history would be technically enough to visit, say, another solar system where there *may* be some sorta lifeform. (which is somewhat of a goal, there's hardly any fun in just getting onto another round rocky ball with dust 'n rocks).

#11

If only we can stop the stupid wars and spend all that money on space exploration, just imagine where we could've been already...

Always had a fascination with space etc, but I no longer care if there's bacteria on Mars, or the moon, or indeed, Uranus. If there is... then what? We've wasted all that money and all we've got to show for it is a couple of rocks and some germs. Aside from the fact that in years to come we could be bringing things back to earth that are so far beyond our comprehension they'll be our undoing.

It all seems like it has no useful purpose. We've got about as much chance of colonising Mars as we have setting up a kebab shop on the surface of the sun.

(Although there's probably already a McDonald's, before anyone else says it)

#12

We've got about as much chance of colonising Mars as we have setting up a kebab shop on the surface of the sun.

That's a really uninformed claim. Watch the documentary 'The Mars Underground' for starters to get the basics of the issue. We could have had a continuos human presence on Mars decades ago, but the U.S. decided it is better to spend all that money on military.

#13

So far the only usefulness I see in exploring moon/mars is mining for iron ore and worthy stuff like that. Tho legally that may be a problem since some ppl decided that space is free and can't be claimed by a company unless the profits go to science/humanity etc.

#14

Well, if theres a pub, I'll go! :)

#15

I want to go to Mars so I can see women with 3 boobs :-)

#16

Like this?

D4NM4N

#17

I want to go to Mars so I can see women with 3 boobs :-)

Right behind you ;)

#18

Mars is pretty, who wouldn't want to go if it was made easy? Just hop in your BA spacejet and off you go. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now landing on Mars. Have a pleasant stay." I doubt anyone would ever want to live there for long though. Make a good trashheap.

#19

Given that we might be looking at horses as a means to getting around again in the not too distant future, perhaps this is as good as it gets?

#20

CS_TBL: Yeah JUST like that ;-) Interesting thing about that character is are ANY of those boobs real or are they all fake? Sorry to have lowered the tone, I love Mars exploration and followed the exploits of the last two droids (well robots really) closely and this new probe is quite exciting. I think we should always keep exploring space AND try to sort out Earth's problems at the same time - it doesn't have to be an "either/or" situation.

The r0nin

#21

...but the U.S. decided it is better to spend all that money on military.

It's the reason all you Europeans don't speak German or Russian right now. I consider it money well spent.

"Those who bite the hand that feeds them will lick the boots that kick them." -- Eric Hoffer.

#22

Really? I thought it was Nixon needing the cash for the Vietnam war. That and the fact that the American public had lost interest in the Apollo programme.

Gabriel

#23

It's the reason all you Europeans don't speak German or Russian right now.

I think you'll find some Europeans speak German. Germans, for example. I might also point out that the Russians were on our side.

Yahfree

#24

Looks like the desert of something... Imagine how unreal it would seem looking at the earth from a distance, I think I'd puke if I was on the moon, would feel so wierd seeing the earth that way.

The r0nin

#25

I think you'll find some Europeans speak German...

Yeah, but right now you have the choice. Back in the thirties and forties...

I might also point out that the Russians were on our side.

Tell that to the Czechs, the Poles, the East Germans, etc... Many Europeans like to forget that they have had all of the money they've used to wreck their economies (through cradle-to-grave socialist nonsense) because they haven't had to foot much of the bill for their own defense since the forties. Throughout the Cold War it was American bases and American soldiers that kept Europe safe from the USSR. But, hey, what's billions and billions of dollars of American money spent to keep Europe democratic and (sort of) free? Though I must admit a bit of humor every time we go to close a base in Europe (which I'm all for... you've had 50+ years to grow up) and the locals in that town (who were busy protesting American "imperialism" yesterday) go nuts because of the economic hit they're going to take...

Gabriel

#26

Whoosh!

#27

you've had 50+ years to grow up

Warning! Ugly American alert!

Nilium

#28

And Americans wonder why we're hated so much when we have people spouting off like this...

Back to Mars. And no more multi-boobs. It probably goes against one of the forum guideline things (unfortunately, since I grew up watching Total Recall and... yeah).

As far as research and plans go, where would be a good starting point to look for information on what's been done to understand and plan for inhabiting Mars, making it useful for resources, or any other ideas that have been proposed in the past? Nevermind the decisions we made in the past and why we could have done this years ago, I'm just interested in what has to be done now.

#29

Looks like the desert of something... Imagine how unreal it would seem looking at the earth from a distance, I think I'd puke if I was on the moon, would feel so wierd seeing the earth that way.

I think you'd puke long before that, pretty much as soon as you got into space. Space puking looks like fun though, judging by that movie apollo 13, so I think you'd enjoy it after a while.

CodeGit

#30

Guys this is a really interesting topic. No need to bring out the "Nation bashing".

#31

It's the reason all you Europeans don't speak German or Russian right now. I consider it money well spent.

What an insulting thing to say. You basically know nothing about WW2.

John Blackledge

#32

Yeah, it's pointless going and colonising Mars.

About as pointless as colonising that new place, what's it called, America? (-post 1492)

#33

Yeah I always wonder if you feel like being sick in freefall? That might put me off, otherwise I'd love to have a go.

boomboom

#34

If they want to find life why do they keep landing in the desert! They should just put it in a city.

(tu) sinu

#35

Yeah. Awesome. And makes one proud to be a member of human race. If only we can stop the stupid wars and spend all that money on space exploration, just imagine where we could've been already...

Stop all the space exploration and wars and see how much money we could use for this planet. That would be a much better plan!!

#36

That's a really uninformed claim.

Its not a claim, its an opinion. I'm no more right or wrong than you are.

What an insulting thing to say. You basically know nothing about WW2.

Well, we know Germany lost.

#37

Moderators,

Please consider editing political posts rather than locking a thread created for goo intentions. Thanks

BACK TO TOPIC ABOUT MARS LANDING

Now, let's assume they DO find something crawling around under the surface. The whole world would want to know everything about the creature. It would be the discovery to put all other discoveries in the dark!

#38

It would be the discovery to put all other discoveries in the dark!

It depends. It'd be a major anticlimax if it turned out to be identical to something already known on earth.

Even if they did find something we don't yet know of, I don't see how its any different to finding a new species on our own planet. Its already known that there are sulphur-based life forms here. They were found a few years ago in South Africa (I think).

#39

Finding life of any kind on Mars would cause a bit of a stir in the religious world I think as they typically assume that only 'we' are alive in this universe. With this fact I'm not 100% whether we'd get to know when there is life on Mars (or anywhere). Perhaps ppl in high places want to prevent mass hysteria? Perhaps conservative-reli ppl in politics simply try to hide it away? I dunno.

#40

Its not a claim, its an opinion. I'm no more right or wrong than you are.

All claims are essentially opinions. You're saying that the earth is no more flat or round, since both of them are opinions.

Well, we know Germany lost.

Which has nothing to do with my point. If the Axis powers had win I would not speak Russia/Germany.

#41

You need to look up the dictionary more. Notice the difference?

Claim: A new statement of truth made about something.

Opinion: A subjective thought that a person has formed about a topic or issue.

Jasu

#42

Finding life on Mars would be interesting from a scientific point of view. The other purpose of this lander was to find water. That information would be more practical than scientifical. Finding enough water would mean a possibility create a somewhat self sufficient settlement on mars surface. A scientific settlement probably at first, but commertial use of Mars resources would eventually follow. Along with them would come people in need of housing, services, entertainment... We shall see.

#43

I think finding life on another planet would not be a trivial discovery - but there would likely be some debate as to whether there was a connection between mars and earth (meteorites, etc..)

#44

It'd be a major anticlimax if it turned out to be identical to something already known on earth

I think that would be pretty interesting actually because it would should that evolution progresses in a similar fashion on other planets!

Re: the Religious issue, I think the Vatican said recently that if life was found on Mars then God made it too. So they've changed their tune to stay up to date (which is probably wise).

puki

#45

Out of interest - how do we know this probe is on Mars? It could be in a desert on earth for all we know. I mean, if the real probe crashed/burnt up etc, would they fake it? I think they might be tempted.

Neji

#46

how do we know this probe is on Mars? It could be in a desert on earth for all we know. I mean, if the real probe crashed/burnt up etc, would they fake it?

yes, and all the people involved in the project at the NASA et ESA are stupid fools too ?

#47

Re: the Religious issue, I think the Vatican said recently that if life was found on Mars then God made it too. So they've changed their tune to stay up to date (which is probably wise).

They've little other choice, haven't they? The more technology and science advances the less credible a religious institute becomes. And eventually they even think they're entitled to take credits for all the science, so you can never win from them in a science-vs-religion debate.

Out of interest - how do we know this probe is on Mars?

If you would be in charge of finances in the USA, and you decided that NASA gets a certain (big) budget from the government, wouldn't you make sure that everything NASA does is being checked on? At the moment we're quite capable to let a machine travel the solar system.

#48

Out of interest - how do we know this probe is on Mars?

Because it is easier to land it than to fake it.

#49

Out of interest - how do we know this probe is on Mars?

I was sitting on Mars at the time, in a deck chair, with 10 regal kingsize and a can of Carling... Just to watch the show of course!

Panno

#50

Get your ass to Mars...

Total Recall.

Plash

#51

Because it is easier to land it than to fake it.

I beg to differ.

#52

I beg to differ.

Do you know how much data these landers send back? Given that the earlier missions were indeed real (which also made thousands of gigabytes of data), you would have to accurately fake thousands and thousands of gigabytes of data. This data would also have to somewhat match the expert opinion and even small errors would be noticed by the scientific community. Given that we know certainly how much money each mission uses, and we also know how many engineers and scientists are working on this and designing the craft, you would need thousands of additional people working on faking the mission, of whom no-one would leak the information (even though something on this scale has never been faked before). Plash, I estimate your IQ to be around 80. By the way, you would need to secretly upload all that data and then send it back from Mars.

The point is, since all that money is really spent on designing this, and a rocket definately WAS send to Mars (and tracked all the time), there is just no point in faking it. So, at the very least we know the craft was sent to space (since people witnessed the launch), and we also know it went to mars (since hobbyist tracked it path), and we also know that it landed (A separate satellite photographed it), there is no point in sending a fake lander there. Plash, you're IQ is pretty low.

#53

Its easier to put a probe on Mars than it is to take a photo of the Nevada desert and tint it red in photoshop? o.O

#54

Its easier to put a probe on Mars than it is to take a photo of the Nevada desert and tint it red in photoshop? o.O

Of course it isin't, who claimed that? Oh I get it, you made a strawman argument, you fool.

#55

Of course it isin't, who claimed that?

Um, you did:

Because it is easier to land it than to fake it.

you made a strawman argument, you fool.

Stop with the insults. I haven't insulted you. If you can't have a debate without resorting to petty insults then you should probably give your keyboard a rest.

#56

Faking the Phoenix mission is not equivalent of "taking a photo of the Nevada desert and tinting it red in photoshop", which made your argument a strawman. I specifically made it clear why faking it is difficult, but you ignored my rational post, therefore making my estimate of your IQ really low.

EdzUp[SD]

#57

They've little other choice, haven't they? The more technology and science advances the less credible a religious institute becomes. And eventually they even think they're entitled to take credits for all the science, so you can never win from them in a science-vs-religion debate.

Religion is unbeleivable anyways, God supposed to have made the world in six days. Evolution has refuted that one, Adam and Eve supposed to have spawned humanity surely that would make us all brothers and sisters. Mary getting pregnant by God surely she didnt give consent to that so that breaks most of the ten commandments right there.

To me it seems to be a money scam to me an easy way to get money from everybody for doing nothing, blowing people up for being different or not seeing things thier way. Thats my opinion.

#58

therefore making my estimate of your IQ really low

Seriously, give it up.

#59

Seriously, give it up.

Yeah, because I made an unbeatable argument.

#60

Yeah, because I made an unbeatable argument.

Yes, you're never wrong.

Retimer

#61

To me it seems to be a money scam to me an easy way to get money from everybody for doing nothing, blowing people up for being different or not seeing things thier way. Thats my opinion.

Waohhh wait a second here...are you saying religion causes more chaos then peace? Are you saying it's for power and people don't setup ceremonies to just help eachother out of the kindness in their hearts (as we are all well known to do without any alterior motives) to find god to provide ~~an unrealistic candy mountain land~~ heaven in the sky once we die and tell people if they don't listen to their rules (written on stone in only one language) that they will go to an opposite place filled with fire and torture?

I don't know eddy, your ~~simple & realistic~~ logic is making some ~~intelligent~~ crazy accusations.

edit: ontopic

how do we know this probe is on Mars?

Ofcourse you can't take my word for it, but my cousin was one of the many that worked on that robot. I highly doubt she would have spent all the time she was away to work on a replica of something that doesn't really exist. I also doubt that she works for the government in a secretive way, and I also doubt she didn't keep track of the whereabouts of the machine.

Back during the moonlanding it may have been easier to fake but now even some citizens would have the technology to determine the truth of any claims made these days.

EdzUp[SD]

#62

Retimer: Taken to email as its not for a discussion here.

Its about time we started exploring the universe Earth isnt gonna last forever.

boomboom

#63

I think this forum thread shows that we have enough problems living with the lifeforms we have already got, let alone going out and looking for more :)

#64

Well, a Mars a day helps you work, rest and play... And by the look of these NASA peepz:-

They wanna lay off them, before someone gets preggers! :D

EDIT: Though, it looks too late for the 2 in the foreground, my guess is they are after benefits, sharpish! :P

TaskMaster

#65

When you spend years on a project and it finally comes to fruition, I am sure you are very happy/proud.

They had to have the whole thing setup so it would do it all on its own and take into account a crazy number of variables. Nasa projects like this are truly amazing.

#66

Yeah, it's amazing when they crash land on Mars because they didn't spend enough money on the landing equipment.

cermit

#67

I wouldn't worry about colonizing Mars. By the time Earths resources are all used up we surely must have technology enough to move the entire population over to another more suitable distant planet, although probably not soon (a few million years?).

And afaik, we have enough problems on Earth before considering expanding to other planets, yet good that we are already exploring other parts of the universe and not going about whether Earth is flat or not :) ( It's flat :P )

#68

Caption (5th guy in the background on the right, who you might not have spotted): "What did you want probing, again? Was it Mars or Uranus?"

...

...sorry, couldn't help it.

puki

#69

I think they should plant cactii (cactus) on Mars - see what happens.

#70

Uranus, brilliant name for a planet. Endless fun guaranteed! :P

student astronomy asks teacher: "can we talk about Uranus today? I've read in my book that it's a gas giant!"

#71

( It's flat :P )

Oh no... not again! :P

#72

One thing the Beagle 2 set out to do was to look for signs of life rather than a block of ice. The device might have been within a shout of a sucessful mission if they had not designed it to look like a pizza delivery box (!) ...

#73

According to Futurama they don't call it Uranus anymore because of all the silly jokes being made about the name. Instead, they now call it Urectum.

#74

#75

and before anyone asks .. No, it's not going into the crater. It is 20 KM in front. Tremendous picture nonetheless

Also, check this out .. The probe has a DVD on the outside!!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/S_001RAD_PER_S_10D10_RRGBM1.html

The mini-DVD from the Planetary Society contains a message to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art inspired by the Red Planet, and the names of more than a quarter million earthlings

So thats what happened to the disc which the Uk's HM Customs lost in the post!
At least the Martians can be thankful it hasn't got AOL on it. I'm sure it'll arrive on the next delivery though

Andres

#76

Voyagers had too somekinda golden discs on them. Dog barks, plain sounds and some photos. if i'm correct there was even instructions how to play the player (or was it instructions to create a player)

Neji

#77

cool landing animation :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_TCM43VqZ1w&feature=related

Barnabius

#78

Actually there's a completely different reason for the mini-DVD disc to be there. They just wanted to make sure no Martian cops would catch them with their Martian speed radars. :-)

Barney