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[Sensei]

While you might want to support your favorite band space program by buying their albums taxes, keep in mind that the record company federal government takes most of the profit! If you really want to pay your favorite band space program, attend their concerts and buy their T-shirts!

[Karlito]

I've seen some suggestions thrown around that Curiosity could theoretically go find Spirit, free it from the rock it is stuck on, and clear its solar panels of dust. Now there's an idea...

Neat as this sounds, it won't happen. For one thing poor Spirit is probably so frozen that she's beyond saving at this point, and Curiosity didn't really land that close to Spirit. Keep in mind the plan is for Curiosity to spend at least two years just driving around in that red dot.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Neat as this sounds, it won't happen. For one thing poor Spirit is probably so frozen that she's beyond saving at this point, and Curiosity didn't really land that close to Spirit. Keep in mind the plan is for Curiosity to spend at least two years just driving around in that red dot.

The nuclear fuel on Curiosity will last 15 years, and they aren't that far apart. Spirit and Curiosity are closer together than any other man-made objects on Mars.

Spirit was designed to survive the Martian winter almost completely shut down, so it could still be viable, especially considering how far past mission it lasted.

I think it's at least worth a shot.

[10ebbor10]

Problem is, you're spending 2 years** of a more advanced rover to go get a less advanced and heavily damaged* rover. Add to that that Spirit was accidentally dropped in a less interesting area and that Curiosity was not designed to try and repair other robots.

*It lost 2 wheels and had problems with a third before it got itself stuck. Add to that frost damage to electronics.
**Optimistical guess. Might be longer.

[Sirus]

So, looks like they only managed to get the rear camera picture this pass-over. Eagerly awaiting the press conference at 9am PST!

[Loud Whispers]

MARTIAN PARTAY TIME

[Jackrabbit]

I love you science. I love you so much. I am going to spend my whole goddamn life courting you if this is what I get out of it.

[RedKing]

I think my reaction this morning to hearing the news on the radio could best be summed up as:
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT IT ACTUALLY WORKED??!?!??"   


EDIT: First thing Curiosity sent back a picture of was its own shadow. Does this mean six more months of Martian winter? 

[Karlito]

XKCD continues to be relevent.



EDIT: Remember how the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was directly over head during landing? It snapped a pretty good picture of the lander with it's parachute open.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm watching the update press conference now. The rover landed on a pretty level surface and doesn't appear to be damaged. They'll spend the next few days activating and checking the antenna and mastcam. The first color photo should arrive in two days.

[Jervill]

Damn, that is a sweet pic.

[RedKing]

Regarding Curiosity and Spirit...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Mageziya]

Theoretically there is enough time to perform a rover rescue mission.
 
It would be a secondary objective, but still, who knows.

[10ebbor10]

Theoretically there is enough time to perform a rover rescue mission.
 
It would be a secondary objective, but still, who knows.

There might be enough time, but the question is wherether there's enough rover left.  There ain't much reasons to go and pick up that rover. The chances of it being functional are low, and even if we can get it working it won't be usefull anymore. Though it would be interesting to see how Mars affected the rover.

[darkrider2]

I'm pretty sure NASA isn't going to allow the rovers to use the power of friendship to rescue each other from harrowing doom and then traverse the barren landscape together looking for the last remnants of civilization while avoiding the ravenous indigenous population, all while dealing with their emotional prospects and spirit's mysterious dark past.

I think I just mashed half of the TVtropes site together making up that joke.

[Darvi]

I'm pretty sure NASA isn't going to allow the rovers to use the power of friendship to rescue each other from harrowing doom and then traverse the barren landscape together looking for the last remnants of civilization while avoiding the ravenous indigenous population, all while dealing with their emotional prospects and spirit's mysterious dark past.

Fanfic time. NOW!