Phoenix surface mission

[JonClarke]

<p>This thread replaces the <font color="#5574b9">Mars Phoenix Lander</font> thread I have locked since it has landed safety.&nbsp; This new thread allows discussion of events and discoveries during the surface mission f the lander over the next 90 days, and perhaps longer.</p><p>The probe may be able to last until early November when the oncoming winter shuts it down.</p><p>Jon</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>This thread replaces the Mars Phoenix Lander thread we I have locked since it has landed safety.&nbsp; This new thread allows discussion of events and discoveries during the surface mission f the lander over the next 60 day, and perhaps longer.The probe may be able to last until early November when the oncoming winter shuts it down.Jon <br /> Posted by jonclarke</DIV></p><p>I think in the press briefing, they said they anticipate 90 days and with how well it appears their power source is an additional 60 days extended.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

<p>Links to images.&nbsp; The ones from the NASA site have an option to view the high res images that you can zoom in on... stunning.<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/index.html<br /><br />http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/images.php?gID=0&cID=8<br /><br /><br />There was a press briefing at 12am EST.&nbsp; I took some quick notes figuring most folks may be sleeping.&nbsp; I couldn't seem to find an archive of it, so I'm reposting my notes from the previous thread.<br /><br /><br />One guy was discussing the accuracy and used analogy of hitting on hole in one playing golf.&nbsp; Teeing off from Washington D.C. and hitting a 4 inch hole in Sydney, Australia 10,000 miles away.&nbsp; When he turned it over to the next guy, the next guy (sorry, forgot their names) said "you forgot to tell them the hole was moving."<br /><br />I got a pretty good laugh from that along with the rest of the press.<br /><br />They ended up down range from their target, not sure yet what happened without pure speculation.&nbsp; MRO will attempt imaging it over the next few days based on their best guesses and triangulate.<br /><br />Confirmed Meteorological mast has deployed.<br /><br />They showed some color images, but didn't say if they were false, nor could I find any on the net yet. [edit:&nbsp; They are available now] </p><p>Parachute deployed 6.5 seconds later than anticipated.&nbsp; Touchdown was 7 seconds behind.<br /><br />No dust on solar arrays or deck of the lander.<br /><br />No concern about the arm digging through the soil.&nbsp; Stated that only limit is solid ice... they can handle anything else.&nbsp; They do have a 'rasp' that shaves the ice, though and can recover the shavings and bake it to analyze the vapor.<br /><br />A reporter asked about the white "thing" in the image.&nbsp; They said it was a polar bear.&nbsp; They said they really don't know, but didn't rule out it was the chute or heat shield.&nbsp; They said these images were low resolution images so they could get them out today.&nbsp; They will get much better resolutions in the coming days.<br /><br />They don't have an agenda quite yet, but looking at the available power source and how well it is working, they are guessing they will probably be able to cram more into their agenda than what they planned.<br /><br />Won't have a full 360 panorama, but guess maybe 120 degree in a one color image by tomorrow (mon.)... maybe full color 360 by tues.&nbsp; I didn't quite catch what they said.<br /><br />Ability to take 22 samples at&nbsp; 2 or 3 days per sample.&nbsp; That's what budgeted within their power supply.&nbsp; Probably won't start digging for a week.&nbsp; They have to take stereo images of their surrounding and feed the dimension into the computer so the 'arm' knows where it is.<br /><br />2pm EST daily briefings for the foreseeable future.<br /><br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[hal9891]

What sort of batteries does Phoenix use? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#808080" color="#999999"><font size="1">"I predict that within 100 years computers will be twice as powerful, 10000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them"</font></font><br /></div> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>What sort of batteries does Phoenix use? <br /> Posted by hal9891</DIV></p><p>A quick google search turned up advance lithion ion batteries, but I couldn't tell ya if that is current or not. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

The first images are truly amazing and they came through so quickly. I particularly like the one showing its foot on the surface. What a masterful piece of probe landing! Can't wait to start getting into the science that results from this mission. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Philotas]

<p>Just snatched up this: </p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">"There have been some indications that NASA's overflying Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) may possibly have snagged imagery of Phoenix drifting under its parachute as the probe headed down toward its arctic touchdown. If MRO was successful in using its sharp-shooting camera, imagery will be released on Monday."</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">&nbsp;http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080526-phoenix-first-images.html</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">Any updates regarding the next images? <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">&nbsp; </span></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

<p>Fantastic that they succeeded. Will at last stop (or restrain) the jitters of some decision-makers on all continents on precision-landing missions. Vital for:</p><p>* landing large masses on Mars</p><p>* robotic missions to airless (or almost airless) non-negligible gravity bodies such as Moon, Europa, Ganymede, Ceres...</p><p>[big relief!!!!]</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[silylene old]

<p>Given the great photos, and where the MPL landed, at the edge of its ellipse and rather near the debris field of a large crater, how thick do you think that is the layer of soils on top of the ice?</p><p>From the pictures, to me it seems as if the loose soil is about&nbsp;5-8 cm thick, but that the boundry between soil and ice is going to be a gradual transition.&nbsp; </p><p>Agree?&nbsp; Take a guess.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[bearack]

<p>Been sifting through what images are available, and WOW.&nbsp; So exciting....</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Can't wait to see the bucket in action.&nbsp; So curious to what they will find in the samples.&nbsp; Heck, even if nothing this is so blooming exciting.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[bearack]

<p>Someone has posted this image in the previous locked thread but thought I would bring into this discussion.&nbsp; Any speculation to what it could be.&nbsp; Pardon the image, I enlarged the image almost to an extreme to try and get a better image of the anomaly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/12/d4b8475f-05b9-4da7-8c09-54bb5f02fee4.Medium.bmp" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[silylene old]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Someone has posted this image in the previous locked thread but thought I would bring into this discussion.&nbsp; Any speculation to what it could be.&nbsp; Pardon the image, I enlarged the image almost to an extreme to try and get a better image of the anomaly.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br />Posted by bearack</DIV></p><p>My guess:&nbsp; The heat shield.&nbsp; Probably hit edge on embedded in the surface.&nbsp; Pixlels are oversaturated because it is bright.&nbsp; Remember, we found similar image results with Spirit and Opportunity.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><strong><font size="2">Great idea Jon, about starting a new thread post Phoenix Landing science.</font></strong>&nbsp;</p><p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Given the great photos, and where the MPL landed, at the edge of its ellipse and rather near the debris field of a large crater, how thick do you think that is the layer of soils on top of the ice?From the pictures, to me it seems as if the loose soil is about&nbsp;5-8 cm thick, but that the boundry between soil and ice is going to be a gradual transition.&nbsp; Agree?&nbsp; Take a guess. <br />Posted by silylene</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2" color="#000000"><strong>Yes I see that Phoenix nearly missed the landing ellipse altogether, but that matters not, what was by far the most important was that Phoenix landed safely & successfully. The crater silylene referred to is the Heimdall Crater, approx 20 Km in diameter.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#000000">Yes I think that you are correct about the landing site being dominated by impact ejecta from Heimdall Crater.&nbsp;</font></strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000080">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10687.jpg</font></strong><strong><font size="2" color="#000080"><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/1/992cfd0a-ac85-4ca4-9107-3c8bc163f102.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br /></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I wonder if the small rocks in the images are Heimdall Crater ejecta?</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I am reposting Planetary Photojournal links of the images to date, to save people hunting around for them.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10689.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/11/b99b12e7-e6e0-4b53-ab40-80dae890b5fb.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000080">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10680.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/11/05d6e122-68a7-4364-bbd7-9e2d5a72d98a.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><font size="2" color="#000080"><strong>http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10685.jpg</strong></font><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/1/7ed19484-e55f-43f3-81dd-046baa084cd5.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000080">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10681.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/10/98a5c90c-197c-430c-ba36-14b7067b7093.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000080">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10684.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/2/87eda5f5-c130-4cc4-a29c-09b2fc19f57c.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><font size="2" color="#000080"><strong>http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10683.jpg</strong></font><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/5/3a5cf5b4-ebc3-46d0-b5f7-d9c55c89d3f5.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><font size="2" color="#000080"><strong>http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10682.jpg</strong></font><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/12/ab5c824c-1b19-4005-9ced-ad837c00ddb8.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000080">http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA10690.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/7/267ee040-d721-407f-a7a8-af0483e3ca18.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><font size="2" color="#000000"><strong>Hopefully we get to see some more soon.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" color="#000000"><strong>Andrew Brown.</strong></font><br />&nbsp;</p> <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>

 

[fractionofadot]

<p>One of the things that has intruiged me about the landing site, aside from those shallow little troughs, are these:</p><p>It looks like chunks of rock moved - at least in one section, in what looks like relatively loose topsoil</p><p><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/13/08fb98ac-68c6-4551-bd06-9fbf4de7c0ac.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spin0]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Someone has posted this image in the previous locked thread but thought I would bring into this discussion.&nbsp; Any speculation to what it could be.&nbsp; Pardon the image, I enlarged the image almost to an extreme to try and get a better image of the anomaly.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> Posted by bearack</DIV></p><p>Last night my first impression was it's a cosmic ray.&nbsp; But if it's in another image too, then I would guess it's parachute or dome.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here's a /.-post with stereo-images of Phoenix's leg: http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=563849&cid=23540615</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

<p>

<font color="#ff0000">One of the things that has intruiged me about the landing site, aside from those shallow little troughs, are these:It looks like chunks of rock moved - at least in one section, in what looks like relatively loose topsoil &nbsp; <br />Posted by fractionofadot[/</font>QUOTE]</p><p><strong><font size="2">Hi fractionofadot.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">That's my take in it also, that small stones were lifted from the loos top soil by the thrusters from Phoenix. A good bit of soil mechanics evidenced there.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.<br /></font></strong></p> <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>

 

[Philotas]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi fractionofadot.That's my take in it also, that small stones were lifted from the loos top soil by the thrusters from Phoenix. A good bit of soil mechanics evidenced there.Andrew Brown. <br />Posted by 3488</DIV><br /><br />If I'm not mistaken, there is a press briefing at 2 pm EDT (in 3 1/2 hours)</p><p>I saw it on NASA TV when nothing was live; and it is in the schedule as well. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[fractionofadot]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Last night my first impression was it's a cosmic ray.&nbsp; But if it's in another image too, then I would guess it's parachute or dome.&nbsp;Here's a /.-post with stereo-images of Phoenix's leg: http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=563849&cid=23540615 <br /> Posted by spin0</DIV><br /></p><p>One of the interesting things I noted in the computer simulation of the landers decent, was that the top atmospheric shield detatched as part of the parachute. In the post landing briefing, I think they said there was very little wind. So if I was to bet on the cause of the anomoly, I'd say it was indeed the parachute still attached to the top shield, but that's just speculation on my part <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /></p><p>Andrew I reckon you're right that the thrusters caused the movement.&nbsp;</p><p>I've been on a high since last night, I can't wait for the start of the soil sampling. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">If I'm not mistaken, there is a press briefing at 2 pm EDT (in 3 1/2 hours)I saw it on NASA TV when nothing was live; and it is in the schedule as well. <br />Posted by Philotas</font></DIV></p><p><strong><font size="2">Cheers Philotas,</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Perhaps some more images will be released showing a different direction. I will be watching.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I still can't get my head around that this is really true. We're getting daily updates, fantastic images. Amazing.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong></p> <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>

 

[centsworth_II]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Certainly looks like a permafrost terrain with a thin active layer.&nbsp; The big question (for me at any rate)&nbsp;is - is the ice still there?<br /> Posted by jonclarke</DIV><font size="1">[From the closed Phoenix Lander thread]</font></p><p>There seems to be no question in the scientists' minds that the permafrost is there.&nbsp; The orbital data must prove it to a certainty.&nbsp; The only questions seem to be how many centimeters deep it is and if there is any thawing on a regular basis. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<p><font color="#333399"><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Just snatched up this: "There have been some indications that NASA's overflying Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) may possibly have snagged imagery of Phoenix drifting under its parachute as the probe headed down toward its arctic touchdown. If MRO was successful in using its sharp-shooting camera, imagery will be released on Monday."&nbsp;http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080526-phoenix-first-images.html <br /> Posted by Philotas</DIV></font></p><p>That would be great, but I wonder what those indications are.&nbsp; The fact that the parachute was deployed 7 seconds later than planned, I think, would present a problem in targeting the shot.&nbsp; It's all a matter of luck. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><strong><font size="2">I've had a go at cropping, enlargening & sharpening the approx true colour view of the horizon from Phoenix.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargementcropofhorizojf9.jpg</font></strong><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/4/4b0c18ea-c6db-456c-b47a-10519aa962e2.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><strong><font size="2">I hope some more images will be released @ 2:00 PM EDT, 6:00 PM UTC / 7:00 PM CET, today during the mission briefing. I will be watching.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong></p> <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>

 

[fractionofadot]

<p>Just a minor thing, but I think it's worth saying.</p><p>I think Peter Smiths involvement in talking to the press has been brilliant, he's really engaged the media and brought a lot of humour to the fold, which is never a bad thing</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thor06]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Links to images.&nbsp; The ones from the NASA site have an option to view the high res images that you can zoom in on... stunning.http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/index.htmlhttp://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/images.php?gID=0&cID=8There was a press briefing at 12am EST.&nbsp; I took some quick notes figuring most folks may be sleeping.&nbsp; I couldn't seem to find an archive of it, so I'm reposting my notes from the previous thread.One guy was discussing the accuracy and used analogy of hitting on hole in one playing golf.&nbsp; Teeing off from Washington D.C. and hitting a 4 inch hole in Sydney, Australia 10,000 miles away.&nbsp; When he turned it over to the next guy, the next guy (sorry, forgot their names) said "you forgot to tell them the hole was moving."I got a pretty good laugh from that along with the rest of the press.</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That was a great qoute, and a nice dose of humor.&nbsp; If you want to hear it again, I put the audio at the start of the edl video.</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3a7VkW7qW4</p><p>I defence of the SDC reporter, It can be very difficult to have any "good" questions left, when you are the last to ask.</p><p>Having said that, I thought it closed the briefing on a nice note.&nbsp; OK, everyone on Mars time now?</p><p>I'm looking forward to today's briefing.&nbsp; They said last night that there would be a briefing every day @ 2pm EDT untill.... </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> <font color="#0000ff">                           www.watchnasatv.com</font></p><p>                          ONE PERCENT FOR NASA! </p> </div>

 

[Philotas]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Just a minor thing, but I think it's worth saying.I think Peter Smiths involvement in talking to the press has been brilliant, he's really engaged the media and brought a lot of humour to the fold, which is never a bad thing <br />Posted by fractionofadot</DIV><br /><br />Indeed, he has done a great job in every respect. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>