Watch engineers build a Mars rover!
This is super-cool. NASA's JPL has set up live streaming video from inside the clean room where they're building the Curiosity rover, formerly known as the Mars Science Laboratory. Work is from 8am-11pm PDT Monday through Friday. I found this on Saturday morning and I've been waiting all weekend for those slacker engineers to get to work so this would be worth posting.
Some comparison: The old Sojourner rover from 1997 was the size of a largeish R/C car. The Mars Exploration Rovers from 2004 that are still running (!) are the size of golf carts. This thing's the size of a Mini Cooper, and has a proportionally larger load of sciencey stuff packed on.
Instructables doesn't allow you to embed Ustream into Forum topics, so you'll have to go to Ustream to watch: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl
Via Bad Astronomy Blog, image from MSL website
Discussions
9 years ago
They're getting on quite well - several extra bits, boxes on arms and such.
They're typical Working Men, as well. There were six men in view a few moments ago - one was poking at the rover, one was poking in a box, three were watching the chap poking the rover, and one bloke was watching computer monitor.
Reply 9 years ago
Hard at it...
Reply 9 years ago
Hey, be nice! They are standing outside the stay-clear while the rover's arm is exercised. It's probably not supposed to move, but do you really want to be in the way when something goes wrong?
9 years ago
What does that warning sign mean? Looks like a "no pets" sign...
Reply 9 years ago
. Looks like "Riding of hobby horses is strictly forbidden" to me, but my zoom is not quite CSI quality.
Reply 9 years ago
Reply 9 years ago
from Freedom of Too Much Information Act:
Robots should not accept piggyback rides from curious onlookers.
Fares to and from the airport are fixed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Look for the official medallion or placard posted by the driver. Tolls and extra charges en route to Mars are added to meter rates.
Reply 9 years ago
.
Reply 9 years ago
nice gif animation
Reply 9 years ago
Wrong... so very wrong...
Reply 9 years ago
or it means "soap shall be tethered on all missions, regardless of gravitational forces in effect".
Reply 9 years ago
from moderator (Veronica) on ustream chat:
1:47 mikeasaurus: did you cover what the yellow sign says?
1:49 VeronicaMcG: The yellow sign states "Flight Hardware. Safeguard it."
9 years ago
Timecheck.
Reply 9 years ago
09:45 here.
OK, Ibles is in California and you're 8 hours behind, JPL is in California, so work resumes...
16:00 UK time.
See you later!
Reply 9 years ago
That eight hour difference will persist until Sunday 7 November at 01:59 local. The U.S. has "extended" DST (Summer Time) through the first week in November, leading to this discrepancy with Europe.
Reply 9 years ago
If I time my posting right, this comment should be at 10:00 Ibles time, and a guy an a Tyvek suit just showed up.
Reply 9 years ago
Whoop, 8am Ibles time, that's 10am my time. And now there's two of them! GASP.
Reply 9 years ago
And an hour later (gotta make time for coffee!) there are two teams in there...
God, I hated wearing those suits! Even with the recirculating AC down to 65 F, you still sweat like a pig :-(
Reply 9 years ago
Looks like one of them is bolting on the radiator...
Reply 9 years ago
That's the hood ornament.
Reply 9 years ago
Oh, now that would be cool - I wonder what it would look like?
Reply 9 years ago
What, Kelsey sweating like a pig? I imagine very wet and rather...frightening.
Also smelly
Reply 9 years ago
That's to scare off any marauding Martians that might disturb the Science.
>hums "Still Alive"<
Reply 9 years ago
The maurading Martians are the Science :-D
Reply 9 years ago
Oh, cry me a river Mr. Science ... :-D