tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post5676477793413162574..comments2023-06-07T06:26:24.546-05:00Comments on Vintage Technology Obsessions: Opportunity: Hail the Amazing Rover!Dwayne F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07032059161503386028noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-33745893705620345732012-06-05T10:21:16.788-05:002012-06-05T10:21:16.788-05:00All: thanks for comments! Our family potential en...All: thanks for comments! Our family potential engineer of the future has a birthday this week and finds the rover program to be particularly inspiring. The timing of this post was intentional. Happy Birthday, gingercat!Dwayne F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07032059161503386028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-65578444986431272002012-06-05T10:16:34.955-05:002012-06-05T10:16:34.955-05:00This is an incredibly successful program. The eme...This is an incredibly successful program. The emerging private contractors have some big shoes to fill. We'll see how it turns out.Dwayne F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07032059161503386028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-23186161859603261672012-06-05T10:05:28.209-05:002012-06-05T10:05:28.209-05:00I think my first space reading was thrift shop Tom...I think my first space reading was thrift shop Tom Swift books. I hate to say it, but the first viewing I can remember was the TV series "Lost in Space". It was hokey, but I loved it.Dwayne F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07032059161503386028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-49720399699641764002012-06-05T10:02:07.615-05:002012-06-05T10:02:07.615-05:00Thanks for the link. I was in awe of Sojourner at...Thanks for the link. I was in awe of Sojourner at the time and still am. It did a lot considering the technology available at the time. Be sure to take a look at a video of the Curiosity landing system.<br /><br />Now for a Geek pipe dream: I'd like to see a rover tough enough to cruise the surface of Venus. I have no idea whether the science would be worthwhile, it is more about the challenge of the thing. I remember growing up with the Venera program. Venus is one hell of an engineering challenge.<br /><br />Europa is the real prize. But we should not send anything there until we are sure we won't screw it up.Dwayne F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07032059161503386028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-17390416892050292042012-06-05T09:27:19.751-05:002012-06-05T09:27:19.751-05:00And don't forget about the little one that sta...And don't forget about the little one that started it all: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_%28rover%29" rel="nofollow">Sojourner</a>. I was actually sad when the little gal shut down, and sad again when Spirit finally spoke her last. True testaments to engineering, those rovers. I've got fingers and all other body parts crossed that Curiosity has a good landing.mpclemenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12807147515549175803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-33737773241519121992012-06-05T08:57:40.570-05:002012-06-05T08:57:40.570-05:00This.<a href="http://xkcd.com/695/" rel="nofollow">This.</a>maschinengeschriebenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955578932937697125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-83546300270590236692012-06-05T07:25:16.738-05:002012-06-05T07:25:16.738-05:00Space Geek Me always dreamed of visiting other wor...Space Geek Me always dreamed of visiting other worlds. All started when I read Bradbury's 'R is for Rocket' and saw Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' in the same year. I was 10. I felt I found my imagination's reality home.J.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716960326168886178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-66268117473864966502012-06-05T06:50:07.406-05:002012-06-05T06:50:07.406-05:00I find this very interesting. I'll be keeping ...I find this very interesting. I'll be keeping abreast with developments on Opportunity and the Mars mission. Thanks for sharing.Ton S. https://www.blogger.com/profile/10691201724230891974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897251519490477449.post-83453004965382349702012-06-05T03:39:58.364-05:002012-06-05T03:39:58.364-05:00Besides the moon landings, this is one of the most...Besides the moon landings, this is one of the most amazing projects at NASA. It goes to show what Made in the USA & a properly funded government project can do. If this venture was left to private enterprise we'd be lucky if the Rover made it the 90 days for which the mission was designed. Even the way the shuttle program was messed with from the start, it lasted 30 years!Bill Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14649212489891769390noreply@blogger.com