# When will the new mars rover start doing interesting things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643 "2012-08-06T18:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/1 "2012-08-06T18:58:04Z")
Just curious whether we have a schedule of planned activities… When are they going to start looking at the biochemical properties of martian dirt, for example? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/2 "2012-08-06T19:16:36Z")
I feel old - I remember a time when just getting to Mars in the first place was considered interesting. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/3 "2012-08-06T19:19:28Z")
The entire landing process was interesting to me… But I assume you are referring to the science goals as opposed to the engineering accomplishments. That won’t happen until they’ve finished checking out all the instruments and making sure they all work properly after landing. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/4 "2012-08-06T19:30:38Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > The entire landing process was interesting to me… Yeah, if I was the rover, I’d be like, “Listen, **Frylock** , I just fucking slowed from like Mach a billion to hover a dozen metres over the ground for long enough to get lowered by a crane attached fucking nothing, on to the fucking surface of another fucking planet, but am I boring you?” That being said, I’ve read claims of a month of operational testing before the rover starts to rove. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/5 "2012-08-06T19:42:23Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I feel old - I remember a time when just getting to Mars in the first place was considered interesting. It totally kicks ass that just getting there is not quite enough now. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/6 "2012-08-06T20:16:56Z")
After the break-in period is over and it gets the first oil change 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/7 "2012-08-06T21:02:32Z")
Sorry, my title was meant humorously. 😉 In any case, thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/8 "2012-08-06T21:28:46Z")
Over the first week, Curiosity is to deploy its main antenna, raise a mast containing cameras, a rock-vaporizing laser and other instruments, and take its first panoramic shot of its surroundings. NASA will spend the first weeks checking out Curiosity before embarking on the first drive. The rover will not scoop its first sample of Martian soil until mid-September at the earliest, and the first drilling into rock is not expected until October or November. Above snipped from **[Curiosity Rover Lands Safely on Mars](http://news.google.com/news/url?ct2=us%2F1_0_s_0_1_a&sa=t&usg=AFQjCNEpRojjzA9slhGizOky3mvCSxl1Vw&cid=26389732059207&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2012%2F08%2F07%2Fscience%2Fspace%2Fnasa-sends-first-images-of-rover-on-mars.html%3Fpagewanted%3Dall&ei=czYgUPioD9GWtwfchwE&sig2=RvuF1pLGJRVtFtx4EvWxFw&rt=SECTION&vm=STANDARD&bvm=section&did=-9143218624165902850&sid=top-stories)** ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/9 "2012-08-06T22:02:04Z")
I’m amazed that we went from the Mars Rover landings, which consisted of wrapping them in bubblewrap, chucking them at Mars, and letting them bounce like a beachball, to selfsupporting skycranes, ala The Jetsons. Can I have my flying car now? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/10 "2012-08-06T22:34:31Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Yeah, if I was the rover, I’d be like, “Listen, **Frylock** , I just fucking slowed from like Mach a billion to hover a dozen metres over the ground for long enough to get lowered by a crane attached fucking nothing, on to the fucking surface of another fucking planet, but am I boring you?” Speaking of Mach, I’m assuming that they are referring to the speed of sound in Mars’ atmosphere, which must be way higher (lower?) in the thin Mars atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/11 "2012-08-06T23:45:42Z")
From the press conference going on now: > [@](#): > > Q: When will the science experiments begin? > > A: Sol 5 to get things going (2 sols primary computer, 2 Sols for secondary computer) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/12 "2012-08-07T00:35:02Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Can I have my flying car now? Sure… …You can pick it up on Mars. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/13 "2012-08-07T00:49:50Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > a rock-vaporizing laser That is so cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/14 "2012-08-07T03:17:00Z")
Jon Stewart is analyzing the mission on _The Daily Show_. That’s kinda interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/15 "2012-08-07T03:33:08Z")
Stephen Colbert is opening with Curiosity coverage… interestinger. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/16 "2012-08-07T03:48:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I feel old - I remember a time when just getting to Mars in the first place was considered interesting. > [@AndrewL](#): > > The entire landing process was interesting to me… Oh sure, but what has the rover done for us _lately_? Myself, I’m waiting for it to vaporize a Martian in the mistaken belief he’s a rock, thereby igniting Interplanetary War I. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/17 "2012-08-07T04:14:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Myself, I’m waiting for it to vaporize a Martian in the mistaken belief he’s a rock, thereby igniting Interplanetary War I. Is it our fault if Martians look like rocks? Anyway, they’ll declare war eventually, as soon as they’ll learn how we’re treating rocks on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/18 "2012-08-07T04:30:17Z")
So we just landed a semi-autonomous, nuclear-powered, laser-armed robot on a different planet… we just became the bad guys in half the science fiction movies made during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Awesome. That said, wouldn’t it have been awesome if they didn’t have a plan? “Yay! It landed! Now what?” … _awkward silence_ … “um… science… and… stuff?” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/19 "2012-08-07T04:37:04Z")
You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have rovers with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/20 "2012-08-07T07:29:35Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Can I have my flying car now? Why don’t you just get yourself a [rocket-powered wingsuit](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2132483/You-WILL-believe-man-fly-Daredevil-pilot-uses-125mph-jet-powered-wing-suit-hurtle-mountains-Switzerland.html)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643.md?page=2)