WTF 300,000,000 miles away??? Mars is less than 300M miles from the Sun, much less the Earth. At it's furthest possible distance from Earth (both planets at aphelion and in opposition, an incredibly rare occurrence), it is more like 500M miles, which is clearly not what is meant. Astrological cheerleaders.


On the other hand, upvote for what is arguably the single most successful NASA mission ever.

^ Yeah, its hard to imagine a more spectacular success than these have been.

I really can't wait for the Mars Science Laboratory. The descent/landing phase of the MSL seems complicated though; I hope it will make it.

>> ^Almanildo:
^ Yeah, its hard to imagine a more spectacular success than these have been.
I really can't wait for the Mars Science Laboratory. The descent/landing phase of the MSL seems complicated though; I hope it will make it.


The problem is that we might be dead before we get to see that.

One of my Comp. Sci. teachers was a part of the academic project that designed and implemented the Mars Rovers' Heliostat - a sensor that detects where in the sky the sun is (very important when you're trying to figure out where you are and what local time of day it is on the Mars surface).

The project was entirely done by students and they did it for a fraction of the cost quoted to NASA by companies who make such components.

>> ^jonny:
WTF 300,000,000 miles away??? Mars is less than 300M miles from the Sun, much less the Earth.

On the other hand, upvote for what is arguably the single most successful NASA mission ever.

Imagine my comment above reads as I've edited here. Grossly incorrect statements added while intoxicated have been removed.

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The duration of this video has been updated from unknown to 7:59 - length declared by cricket.