3 ms·

Here's a nice pic of a Spirit clone together with Sojourner (from 1997) and the successor to Spirit and Opportunity, MSL: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/D

by mturmon 15y ago

Here's a nice pic of a Spirit clone together with Sojourner (from 1997) and the successor to Spirit and Opportunity, MSL: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Dec4_E-3-generation-rovers.jpg http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/Dec4_E-3-generation-rove... MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) should launch late this year: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/

ugh 15y ago
That will be one tense Rube Goldberg landing in 2012. A failure would be very disappointing. Phoenix gives at least some hope that NASA has landing with rocket motors on Mars under control.
- mturmon 15y ago
  You're right about the tense landing. The thing that makes it hard is this: Phoenix mass: 350kg Spirit/Opportunity mass: 550kg MSL mass: 900kg
- fletchowns 15y ago
  The way it lands is awesomely elaborate, for anybody who hasn't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BudlaGh1A0o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BudlaGh1A0o Watch it in 720p!