Well, there it is. It’s well worth a follow-up to my NASA update posting yesterday: Curiosity has landed successfully, just over an hour ago.
This is a big deal, a monumental achievement, not only for NASA, but for scientific understanding to benefit all of mankind. This is the ultimate follow-up to NASA’s huge MRO, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and the two life-like rovers Spirit and Opportunity which are entering their ninth year of operation exploring the red planet. It all harkins to Neil Armstrong’s famous words on Apollo 11 back in July, 1969. And it should do, well almost. Instead of one small step, this one has six wheels and a whole bunch of instruments.
The importance of this achievement cannot be over-stated or exaggerated. We will learn whether life could have or in fact does exist on another celestial body in our solar system. We will gain a much better appreciation for the circumstances that were needed to give rise to life on our own planet. This knowledge will help to identify other potential life supporting solar systems and in particular specific objects in our galaxy. We will learn much about the history of our solar system formation, knowledge which will have immeasurable benefits for future missions and for the understanding of cataclysmic dangers such as asteroid impacts. We will also understand specifically what kinds of stars, solar systems, planets, satellites. comets and asteroids to target for further knowledge.
But most of all Mars will become cool again. NASA will bring Curiosity and its efforts into everyone’s living roon room through high-definition digital TV. It’ll be just like you’re standing on Mars yourself, looking around, alone or with friends, going ‘Woohhhhhhh, cool. OK can I go home now?” Ha Ha! Go out and get a 55″ LED! It’ll be worth it.
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner Smith’s School in Kotoen
Wow, very cool indeed. Just heard about it on the news. Nice to know real adventures still remain!
Rick
スミス 英会話 長岡京