NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), based in Pasadena, CA, recently released a 360-degree video of a vista of Mars' Namib Dune from their rover, Curiosity. On one hand, it's an all-encompassing, but static, noiseless video. Yet, on the other hand, it's the most realistic, hands-on, feels-like-you-were-there video of another planet that we have. If you think about it for a moment while you're watching, it suddenly hits you: we're really there. We have a presence on Martian land.
Beyond the expanse of Mars' landscape and the gentle dunes that look not unlike those we find on Earth is an additional treat that isn't exactly "beyond" at all. In fact, people often forget to look in directions other than side to side. Don't forget to use the video to look down at a close-up, personal view of the rover itself, covered in Martian dust. It's arguably the most advanced wheeled vehicle humans have ever made. For those at JPL, it is and will always be their baby.
For some perspective, I took this shot of the clean room within which Curiosity and its accompanying spacecraft were built back in 2011. One can see the heat shield being built toward the right (the white dome) while the rover sits behind it, its black legs sprawling out without wheels (at the time).
NASA has its funding battles every day. However, it's videos like this that make it easier for the broader public to love, accept, and align themselves in agreement with the ideals, wonder, and love for space exploration that one can only hope will keep NASA powering forward.
[via NASA]
It blows my mind to think of how far away this is and that these are actual landscapes, horizons, mountains on another planet than our own.
I remember the first time I saw the "clean room" during my intern days at JPL, we use to call it "building 179"... The Cassini and the initial Mars launch were all the rage back then. According to the shot provided, the room looks only slightly different these days. I'm glad to see this article here; JPL particularly has always depended on both public and scholastic awareness.
I have to [lol] a little internally when I read, "For those at JPL, it is and will always be their baby." Many Engineers, Project Managers , and Auditors have retired since Cassini, but if you were to ask them, I'm not so sure Curiosity's label in the article "... is and will always be their [JPLs] baby..." is an accurate statement of JPL as a whole. In fact, it seems at least a little swellheaded for JPL to say such a statement considering their long standing partnership with both NASA and Cal Tech's scientific and monetary contributions during the last decades....
Undoubtedly, there are many agencies involved in any project of this magnitude. And a lot of them deserve way more recognition than they ever do really get. They might feel ownership of the project just the same -- and rightly so. But I was just saying that for those that work every day for years on each (and many times, on only one) project...these endeavors of space exploration always prove to be like children. If it goes well, that sense of pride and success over a job well done can be almost overwhelming. When something goes wrong, it can often be like losing something so dear (imagine what it must be like to work on something for 2, 4, 10 years and then losing it as it blows up on the launchpad...that's your life's work vaporizing in front of you).
In any case, these are remarkable feats for any civilization, let alone our relatively humble human one. And it's nice to see videos like this to remind us of that quest to find meaning by (ironically enough) looking as far into our past as we can.
Also, to say I had a great time during my several visits to JPL is a gross understatement, but I can only imagine what it must have been like to intern there. Awesome! (read: totally jealous) ;-)
Right on man... My only point was that the statement coming from JPL as a whole seemed a little over the top considering the magnitude of their successes and accomplishments, that Curiosity (in and of itself) would be considered "the baby". I get that those folks working on Curiosity itself would feel that way, absolutely.
On the other hand, the internship was pretty cool... One of my favorite stories is about one day while I was waiting for the shuttle bus during my lunch. Along came a guy that stood next to me, he turned out to be responsible for discovering the coldest place in the universe. One of the coolest guys ever, he had me over for tea and some of his stories were most excellent.
Oh, totally. I suppose I assumed (bad idea, I know) that it was clear I meant those involved. But yes, good point. Exactly.
I feel like those experiences must happen all the time on that campus (and most times, you probably don't even know what these people are responsible for). Pretty amazing all around. Thanks for sharing!
Here you can see and download the source http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA20284
Here's what I got http://panosphera.ru/gallery/dune-on-mars/
Never A Straight Answer = NASA? I would not believe anything they put out and that looks like CGI and most likely is.
and jet fuel doesn't melt steel beams