Images of Mars Part IV, Victoria Crater/Home Plate and MRO

[rlb2]

Bottom - 2P233691788EL2M1.55 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[franontanaya]

One of the new MSL proposed landing sites is plain awesome! Check it.<br /><br />http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_003921_1690<br /><br />Does this qualify as a cryovolcano?<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[franontanaya]

Very false color from a B&W image, but beautiful anyway. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">One of the new MSL proposed landing sites is plain awesome! Check it.<font color="white"><br /><br />Thanks for the link. <br /><br />Lots of possibilities, also note at the linked site is several Phoenix proposed landing sites.<br /><br />2P233691668EL2M1</font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

In that view it looks delicious, white dessert on a chocolate background.<br /><br />Hmmm, time for lunch <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

<font color="yellow">it looks delicious, white dessert on a chocolate background. </font> - I'm thinking of a re<i>tort</i>...<br /><br />As long as I'm burning up a post, I'd like to again thank rlb, 3488, H2O et al for their wonderful work illuminating our screens! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

2P235473798EL5M1 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks Franontonaya,<br /><br />Could be. Mars seems to be the type of object that could have both types of<br />volcanism.<br /><br />High Temperature Silicate (Tharsis & Elysium) & as you metion<br />cryovolcanics like the mound you posted.<br /><br />Thaks brellis for you kind comment.<br /><br />I come nowhere near to rlb2 & Anthmartian for posting quality images.<br /><br />Thanks rlb2, please keep sharing your wonderful gift with us all.<br /><br />I for one appreciate it very much.<br /><br />I do not post much on this particular thread, because I have little of value to <br />contribute.<br /><br />I agree also about your comments on H2Ouniverse, he does enlighten us with many new <br />insights in icy / cryovolcanic worlds.<br /><br />But I do look EVERY DAY.<br /><br />I do not post much on this particulalr thread, because I have little of value to <br />contribute.<br /><br />I agree also about your comment on H2Ouniverse, he does enlighten us with many new <br />insights in icy / cryovolcanic worlds.<br /><br />Andrew Brown.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">I for one appreciate it very much.<font color="white"><br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />__________________________________<br /><br />Looks like they are going into Victory crater around 07/07/07<br /><br /><font color="orange">Risky Crater Descent Planned for Mars Rover<br /><br />The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) "Opportunity" will perform a risky descent into <br />the red planet's giant Victoria Crater early next month.<br /><br />The announcement was delivered during a NASA teleconference today,<br /> and came after months of debate about whether or not to proceed. Officials said <br />the decision has been difficult to make because some scientists think the <br />crater may become the aging rover's final resting place.<br /><br />Opportunity is currently perched on "Duck Bay," an alcove on the rim of the crater <br />from which it will descend. Scientists have deemed the site the gentlest entry <br />point to the 800-meter-wide (2,600-foot-wide) crater. <font color="white"> <br /><br />http://www.space.com/news/070628_opp_victoria.html<br /></font></font></font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[rlb2]

Post deleted by rlb2 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[3488]

Thank you very much rlb2.<br /><br />Like the volcanic basaltic rocks. The Vesicles contained within are very clear.<br /><br />Also your image of Victoria Crater from the MRO HiRISE, showing Opportunity's route,<br />shows what a back tracked rout she's taken.<br /><br />now nearly at the same point as when she first arrived @ Victoria Crater.<br /><br />Please continue posting your amazing images.<br /><br />BTW, why have you just deleted the last one with the volcanic basalt?<br /><br />Sorry mate, I've just seen it re-appear after this post.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

2P236269181EL5M1 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[abq_farside]

Re: 2P236269181EL5M1 <br /><br />Volcanic alligator (upper right) and turtle/frog (lower left)? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Great images, thanks again, keep 'em coming. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yeah, great examples of volcanic rocks, implanted in place.<br /><br />Cool stuff. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Smersh]

Those pictures of Victoria Crater are brilliant guys, thanks. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I hope these videos haven't already been posted at SDC somewhere but anyway, here's a couple of cool NASA 3D animations of Victoria Crater, the first shows a virtual flyover, the second shows Opportunity's current position (looks like it's being driven by Lewis Hamilton, but guess they had to speed it up otherwise the vid would take a couple of weeks or so ... lol )<br /><br /><i><b><font color="orange">Animation 1</font>/b></b></i><br /><br /><i><b><font color="orange">Animation 2 </font>/b></b></i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

From Spirit on Sol 1239.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

2P236362079EL5M1 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[rlb2]

Opportunity reduced panoramic view of just released sol 1162, note we are currently at 1222??<br /><br />1P231343013EL5M1 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">A major dust storm on Mars has worsened and is causing the Mars Exploration Rovers <br />to lose power. <br /><br />Opportunity's highly anticipated and risky entry into Victoria Crater is delayed for <br />at least several days, NASA announced. <br /><br />The regional storm, first reported by SPACE.com, is the most severe to hit the rovers <br />since they began exploring Mars in January 2004. Already last week it was thousands <br />of miles wide. At first, scientists did not expect it to affect rover operations. <br /><br />But dust from the storm is partly blocking sunlight, which the rovers need in order <br />to recharge their batteries via their solar panels. Opportunity's operations <br />were scaled back June 30 to conserve power, according to the statement. <br /><br />"The storm is affecting both rovers and reducing the power levels on Opportunity," <br />said John Callas, Mars Exploration Rover project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion <br />Laboratory. "We are keeping an eye on this as we go forward, but our entry into <br />Victoria Crater will be delayed until no sooner than July 13." <br /><br />http://www.space.com/news/070704_rovers_dust.html<br /><br />2P236804492EL5M1</font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[rlb2]

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Looks very promising, question the use <br />of the skycrane concept??? Why not just land on top of the Skycrane then <br />roll off, similar to the way the Viking Landers landed; they are using the Viking <br />Landers technology for the Skycrane??? So you blow up a little dust around <br />the perimeter of the MSL its range is 20 Kilometers they will be plenty chances <br />away from the landing site to explore...<br /><br />If you look at the conceptual design from the linked pdf provided then you <br />see three different lines coming down from the Skycrane to the rover -if they <br />use that configuration then it will be a big mistake they should bundle all <br />the lines together. If the rover turns just a little bit on its way down from the <br />Skycrane one of the wires could dislodge or be severed as they wrap around <br />each other.<br /><br />http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/memoranda/MSL_overview_LS.pdf<br /><br />Image below by NASA is used to compare the size of MSL to the current MER <br />rovers on Mars. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks rlb2<br /><br />Great images & posts as always.<br /><br />Very true rlb2. I think the descent of MSL is overly complicated.<br /><br />If those lines do twist together, there's no mission!!!<br /><br />The Viking type landing sound more commonsensical. Both Vikings landed perfectly well, so<br />why not do similar with this?<br /><br />AFAIK the Soviet Lunokhods landed on powered descending platforms.<br /><br />I know that the powered descent of Mars Polar Lander failed, but now looks as that was<br />software failure rather than anything wrong with the hardware.<br /><br />Lets hope that Mars Phoenix Lander does not suffer the same fate.<br /><br />Mind you the air bag system has a great record. Mars Pathfinder, Spirit & Opportunity<br />all landed successfully with very few, if any real issues, apart from minor irritations<br />such as the odd puffy airbag that did not deflate 100%.<br /><br />There is also an important update on the worsening Dust Storm on Mars.<br /><br />Once again Tahnk you very much rlb2 for your great images & insightful postings.<br /><br />Please keep them coming.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">Mind you the air bag system has a great record. Mars Pathfinder, Spirit & Opportunity <br />all landed successfully with very few, if any real issues.<font color="white"><br /><br />Thanks for the kind words.<br /><br />True however unfortunately with the mass of the MSL coming in over 775 Kilograms <br />+ the Mass of the Skycrane + fuel and the Martian air density at 1/100 th of Earth's <br />with the parachute size only 10 percent larger than MER's it velocity before <br />landing would be around 300 kilometers per hour, that’s way too fast to use <br />airbags. Studying this further I think there is a better cheaper, safer, solution <br />that I will present at a Conference at the end of August. <br /></font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[3488]

Lets hope that the powers that be listen to you. You clearly know how it should be done.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">'Scary Storm' on Mars Could Doom Rovers <br /><br />A giant dust storm that now covers nearly the entire southern hemisphere <br />of Mars could permanently jeopardize the future of the Mars Exploration Rovers <br />mission, officials told SPACE.com today.<br /><br />The new and potentially bleak outlook is a stark shift from the prognosis earlier <br />this week. Michael Malin of Malin Space Science Systems said in e-mail interview <br />that a smaller, second dust storm has recently appeared on the Red Planet, <br />further compounding the threat to the rovers.<br /><br />The first and largest dusty squall has reduced direct sunlight to Mars' surface <br />by nearly 99 percent, an unprecedented threat for the solar-powered rovers. <br />If the storm keeps up and thickens with even more dust, officials fear the <br />rovers' batteries may empty and silence the robotic explorers forever.<br /><br />"This is a scary storm," said Mark Lemmon, a planetary scientist at Texas <br />A&M University and member of the rover team. "If it gets any worse, we'll enter <br />into some uncharted territory. There's been a lot of discussion about <br />what we're going to do if (the rovers) don't have enough power to run <br />during the day."<font color="white"><br /><br />http://www.space.com/news/070705_dusty_rovers.html<br /><br />This is as they said "scary" stuff folks, the panoramic image I processed below was <br />the last one beamed down from Opportunities site it was extremely dark; I had <br />to lighten it a lot. I don't know what time of day it was imaged but it seems <br />to be a very serious storm....<br /><br />1P231343013EL5M1</font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[rlb2]

2P237153131EL5M1 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>