Having been raised on Tom Swift books, just saying that is pretty cool.
"After a seven-month journey to the Red Planet, the Perseverance rover is finally ready to touch down on Mars.
...But the stage is set, and the $2.7 billion Perseverance rover is scheduled to reach the surface at 3:55 p.m. EST (12:55 p.m. PST) on Thursday, February 18.
Coverage at NASA’s live stream, which you can watch below, begins at 2:15 p.m. EST (11:15 a.m. PST)."
(delayed) live stream:
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Strangha 
Happening today! Landing
Happening today! Landing around 3:55 EST, as Alan said.
https://www.space.com/perseverance-mars-rover-landing-day
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mars-rover-perseverance_n_602e21ebc5b66df...
Thanks for the head's up, Alan.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
> Having been raised on Tom
> Having been raised on Tom Swift books
I wasn't raised on Tom Swift books, but I did watch a lot of Looney Tunes, and still think this is pretty cool.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
I'm just old enough to
I'm just old enough to remember the original space program (I distinctly remember when the Apollo 1 caught fire on the launch pad in Jan 67).
All the cool toys were space themed. Lost in Space aired 65-68. Star Trek aired 66 - 69.
Then we started building our own model rockets. Sorta unbelievable they would sell a small stick of dynamite (a rocket motor) to any 12 year old.
Going to Mars was science fiction.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
Alan, I think we're about the
Alan, I think we're about the same age, and was similarly fascinated by the space program when I was growing up. In fact, one of my earliest memories was watching the launch of Friendship 7 in early 1962. I was about a year and a half old and watched the launch while sitting in a laundry basket (my personal spacecraft) in front of our black and white TV. The launch was delayed several times for technical issues, but eventually rocketed John Glenn into history.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
^ Yep, remember all the
^ Yep, remember all the rocket models? I can still smell the Testors paints and tubes of glue. Jezus, what did that stuff do to us?
Then we graduated to Estes rockets. No adult supervision. I still have all my fingers.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
Hey, I'm working this side of
Hey, I'm working this side of the street!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Sigmund 
Cool as shit
Cool as shit
Couple more Hours
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  jazfish 
The Estes rockets were a
The Estes rockets were a blast as were the gas model airplanes attached by strings to the handheld controller. Those planes would make you dizzy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Briank 
They still make the Estes
They still make the Estes rockets.
As teens: cut open a D rocket and very gently crush up the rock hard gun powder. Put a wick in the bottom of a spent rocket (the side with the cement with a perfect size hole) and fill it with the crushed powder. Seal with rubber cement. Roll in rubber cement. Roll in BB's.
Voila! You have a shrapnel bomb!
You're right, I can't believe they sold that to us.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Mtndog 
Thanks for the link, should
Thanks for the link, should be exciting stuff.
I enjoyed putting together and launching model rockets for a bit
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Utahjim 
I still love getting the
I still love getting the Estes rocket kits. My son and nephew love to try to chase it for the landing. I have one in the garage now ready to go. Just waiting for a nice day.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Druba 
My neighbor went to the big
My neighbor went to the big Pine Mt Oregon Rocketry party last year (the private pandemic version), sounded like a blast (off)!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
As teens: cut open a D rocket
As teens: cut open a D rocket and very gently crush up the rock hard gun powder. Put a wick in the bottom of a spent rocket (the side with the cement with a perfect size hole) and fill it with the crushed powder. Seal with rubber cement. Roll in rubber cement. Roll in BB's.<<<
We used 35 mm film canisters (minus the bb's) and duck tape!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
And great to see the model
And great to see the model rocket scene in Freaks and Geeks, BTW
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Sycamore  Slough 
Played with the Estes stuff
Played with the Estes stuff as well back in the 1970's. Some of the models had 2 or 3 stages, so you'd put in multiple 'engines' and they would often work, first Stage lighting the next one and going higher.
I think the D - size was the biggest 'engine' but there was another company that made larger rocket kits and bigger Engines. Can't remember the name of the outfit but they were geared toward older, richer hobbyists.
Since a lot of times the parachute wouldn't open, or catch on fire, the Estes models would crash into Earth or trees at high speeds. Those bigger kits were a lot of ca$h for a kid to burn up. I think I built one (the other company) and it flew waaay higher and I never saw it again.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  El Nino 
If you ever want to know how
If you ever want to know how JPL was started it's covered in this show, and it is one fucked up psychedelic story.
https://www.cbs.com/shows/strange-angel/news/1008613/strange-angel-s-jac...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
If you ever want to know how
If you ever want to know how JPL was started it's covered in this show, and it is one fucked up psychedelic story<<<
It's a cool series ... didn't realize it is a true story.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  dimethyllovebeam 
This is cool, Thanks, Alan!
This is cool, Thanks, Alan!
it'd be sweet if it was greeted by Rod Serling when it lands. That'd make 2020 seem quite tame in comparison.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  MarkD 
I remember getting up at 4 or
I remember getting up at 4 or so on the west coast with my mom to watch the earliest launches at Canaveral.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  jazfish 
Huzzah!
Huzzah! Landing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
Touchdown confirmed.
Touchdown confirmed.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  jazfish 
I must be closer to Mars than
I must be closer to Mars than you, Mike Edward's. One minute.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
I think I just heard someone
I think I just heard someone over the NASA feed say "Bong-hits Tonight!"
In history, this kind of stuff (interplanetary exploration) will be remembered.
The aliens are probably asking. "If they can do this, why do they spend so much time killing each other?"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  _________ 
VERY Cool !
VERY Cool !

Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:      (~)};)StealYourFace  
we had Estes rockets with a
we had Estes rockets with a payload section which we introduced mice and frogs into space haha.
When we were kids the "malls" were closed on Sundays, that was our Cape Canaveral (and Indy speedway with our gocarts)...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
> I must be closer to Mars
> I must be closer to Mars than you
Could be, Jaz, or I might just be a little slow. Maybe a Back-East vs. Out-West thing?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  MeditateontheQ 
^^^ Love this thread, ya'll!
^^^ Love this thread, ya'll!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
>we had Estes rockets with a
>we had Estes rockets with a payload section which we introduced mice and frogs into space haha.<
and there was the camera one that never really worked
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Sycamore  Slough 
^I got my Nephew the camera
^I got my Nephew the camera one maybe mid-90's and he got a couple decent aerial fotos before it burned or crashed or ??
But he had fun playing with it and minimal assembly required, so he launched that afternoon.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  ... 
I think this was the second
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Strangha 
^ Now that's funny.
^ Now that's funny.
Revive this one?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Rasputin O'Leary 
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  I rang a silent bell  
Where's Bernie?
Where's Bernie?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
This high-resolution still
Hi-res pic here: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/rover_drop.jpg
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Strangha 
Amazing doesn't even start to
Amazing doesn't even start to describe it.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Def. High 
Where does the sky crane go
Where does the sky crane go after it drops the rover off?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
>Where does the sky crane go
>Where does the sky crane go after it drops the rover off?<
Well little Surfie, good question -- it's actually a "stork" not a crane or a heron, but they look similar and no one really knows the difference, and Mr Stork flies back to the Delivery Center In The Sky to get a nother puppy for another kid, just like you. Now go walk your new doggie while daddy and mommy have a playdate.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  El Nino 
video with sound. Looks
video with sound. Looks burning man before everyone shows up
https://twitter.com/IrfanKh65232660/status/1362274214707924993
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  El Nino 
Better Link
Better Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2UaFuJsqxk&feature=emb_logo
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  intentionally blank 
FaceOnMars. Your namesake?
FaceOnMars. Your namesake?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  El Nino 
and also not from this
and also not from this mission, but still interesting
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
Yes, mike
Yes, mike
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  skyjunk 
I still like to think of
I still like to think of myself and anyone else born between 57-69 not as Baby Boomers or Generation X but as Space Age Kids
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  _________ 
Just Awesome
Just Awesome
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
I had to research Surfdead's
I had to research Surfdead's question re the sky crane:
"...fly off to make its own uncontrolled landing on the surface, a safe distance away from Perseverance."
In other words, it crashes and becomes Mars pollution. Hopefully, someday some one will gather the pieces and recycle them.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Def. High 
I like the stork story better
I like the stork story better.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  19.5 Degrees 
New footage ...
New footage ...
https://youtu.be/j93u8GIsPLw?t=57
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Druba 
(No subject)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Def. High 
And those birds are angry!
And those birds are angry!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  Alan R 
You can watch the entire
You can watch the entire landing from the Sky Crane / Rover's view -- this is what it would be like to land on the planet in a spaceship.
And hear audio from the surface. Tapers are everywhere!
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-mars-perseverance-rover-provid...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name:  fishcane 
Dare mighty things!
Dare mighty things!
https://mobile.twitter.com/steltzner/status/1364076615932645379?ref_src=...