# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/21 "2012-08-07T09:43:09Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > 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. They would have loved to use another airbag landing. Curiosity was simply too big, so things got rather out of hand. It isn’t as if powered landings are new. We have been dropping things onto the moon and Mars for decades like this. As great a Curiosity is, we forget Viking. Viking 1 & 2 landed on Mars in 1976 with a rocket poweered descent after aerobraking and parachute. Each Viking lander weighed 570kg (Curiosity is not quite double that) and Viking also used radioisotope thermal generators. The Vikings had 60 W total power, compared to Curiosity’s 120 W. Viking also brought its own orbiters along to do both more science and to relay information. So, not to take away from how great Curiosity is - it is only about twice the size of Viking, and 37 years later. And there is only one. The big difference is of course the science Curiosity will do. The fact that it can move, and has an order of magnitude or two more science capability is where things will get amazing. But Viking totally revolutionised our understanding of Mars. Consider the level of technology back then and be amazed. Given Viking cost about 1 billion in 1975 dollars, it was a **lot** more expensive than Curiosity, even if it did deliver two orbiters and two landers. > [@](#): > > Can I have my flying car now? No. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/22 "2012-08-07T11:57:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have rovers with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads! I believe this one does have a laser in fact. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/23 "2012-08-07T12:28:45Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > 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? well, in the realm of amazing, consider the photograph of Curiosity’s parachute descent taken from orbit by another satellite. That photograph had to be planned back in March and if the calculations had been 1 second off, they would have missed the shot. Oh, they had to maneuver the photo satellite in it’s orbit in advance to get the shot. They nailed it. It doesn’t qualify as interesting-I rank it as amazing. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/24 "2012-08-07T12:30:30Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Sure… > > …You can pick it up on Mars. cheap too! it is used. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/25 "2012-08-07T18:24:10Z")
[quote=“AndrewL, post:3, topic:630643”] The entire landing process was interesting to me… Yeah, but I still like the bouncy-ball type landing. 🙂 (Not possible in this case, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/26 "2012-08-07T19:34:05Z")
Related… A pretty good breakdown: [Why Do the Mars Rover’s Images Look So Bad?](http://gizmodo.com/5932521/why-do-the-mars-rovers-images-look-so-bad) ---
**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, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/27 "2012-08-07T21:07:23Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Related… A pretty good breakdown: [Why Do the Mars Rover’s Images Look So Bad?](http://gizmodo.com/5932521/why-do-the-mars-rovers-images-look-so-bad) NASA didn’t put the wrong mirror in _again_, did they? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/28 "2012-08-07T21:15:08Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > 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?” I just like that it’s called Curiosity. Makes NASA seem blase about the whole thing. “Whatcha doin’ on Mars?” “Nothing, just curious.” ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/29 "2012-08-07T21:47:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I feel old - I remember a time when just getting to Mars in the first place was considered interesting. I mentioned to a work mate that it was sort of funny to have Curiosity greeted by an orbiter and another functional rover on Mars. Not so much a final frontier as a regular work site. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/30 "2012-08-07T22:12:07Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > I mentioned to a work mate that it was sort of funny to have Curiosity greeted by an orbiter and another functional rover on Mars. Not so much a final frontier as a regular work site. My mind was blown the day I heard that a ship launching to the ISS had to be delayed to allow another ship to depart, and I realized that we has actually reached the point of having traffic jams in space. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/31 "2012-08-07T22:29:39Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > 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. > > " Never thought of it that way, but you are absolutely correct! Hm, I think there is a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode in that 😃 > [@rbroome](#): > > well, in the realm of amazing, consider the photograph of Curiosity’s parachute descent taken from orbit by another satellite. That photograph had to be planned back in March and if the calculations had been 1 second off, they would have missed the shot. Oh, they had to maneuver the photo satellite in it’s orbit in advance to get the shot. They nailed it. > It doesn’t qualify as interesting-I rank it as amazing. I think it is past amazing and freaking miraculous [given the government tends to do things lowest bidder~!] > [@AndrewL](#): > > My mind was blown the day I heard that a ship launching to the ISS had to be delayed to allow another ship to depart, and I realized that we has actually reached the point of having traffic jams in space. OK, fine, so where is the space hotel and why did they seem to lose my reservation ☹ I would love to be able to take a vacation off the earth at least once before I die ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/32 "2012-08-07T22:41:30Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Related… A pretty good breakdown: [Why Do the Mars Rover’s Images Look So Bad?](http://gizmodo.com/5932521/why-do-the-mars-rovers-images-look-so-bad) Thank you very much for the entertaining and informative link. The semi-transparent lens caps are so obvious when you hear about them. But when you see the first pictures, you think, “Hey, we got better pictures from Viking!” ---
**Author:** ![shstrang98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shstrang98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shstrang98)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/33 "2012-08-07T23:51:52Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > That is so cool. Well it is “cool” now. Let’s see how “cool” it is when Targoor the rock monster gets pissed from being shot by the laser and stomps Curiosity into the Martian soul. I wouldn’t want to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/34 "2012-08-08T00:37:29Z")
I thought you meant sodomize and murder Opportunity… ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/35 "2012-08-08T00:42:30Z")
> [@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?” > . But what have you done for us lately. 🙂 Sorry, just had to. Declan ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/36 "2012-08-08T00:56:23Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > From the press conference going on now: Is there a version of that in English? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/37 "2012-08-08T01:47:36Z")
Interesting development. [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/07/article-0-146D5F6B000005DC-954_634x462.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/07/article-0-146D5F6B000005DC-954_634x462.jpg) [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/07/article-0-146D5F6F000005DC-5_634x568.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/07/article-0-146D5F6F000005DC-5_634x568.jpg) Interesting & Exciting. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/38 "2012-08-08T03:16:22Z")
Is it armed with an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/39 "2012-08-08T04:12:47Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I feel old - I remember a time when just getting to Mars in the first place was considered interesting. I remember when the hot exciting sciency space exploration series on TV was called “To Mars and Beyond”. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643/40 "2012-08-08T04:17:45Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Jon Stewart is analyzing the mission on _The Daily Show_. That’s kinda interesting. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Stephen Colbert is opening with Curiosity coverage… interestinger. It’s been well understood for quite some time now, I think, that Stewart and Colbert are …Srsly!.. the best and most reliable TV news sources we have any more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-new-mars-rover-start-doing-interesting-things/630643.md?page=3)