MRO HiRISE successfully photographed MSL Curiosity's descent

  • Thread starter Mech_Engineer
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In summary, the Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter successfully utilized its fantastic HiRISE camera to take a picture of the Curiosity rover during parachute descent. The synchronization between teams during this landing is just staggering, and the image pretty much speaks for itself. I can't wait to see the images taken by the rover during final descent.
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Mech_Engineer
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In another amazing photograph, the Mars Reconnaisance Oribiter (MRO) successfully utilized its fantastic HiRISE camera to take a picture of the Curiosity rover DURING PARACHUTE DESCENT.

The amount of perfect synchronization between teams during this landing is just staggering- Curisoity's descent telemetry signal was relayed through the Odysesy orbiter, and photographed MID FLIGHT by the MRO HiRISE camera.

BRAVO JPL/NASA!

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/08060824-hirise-curiosity-parachute.html

http://www.planetary.org/assets/images/ spacecraft /curiosity-hirise.png

Planetary.org said:
In 2008, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped an amazing photo of Phoenix descending to the surface of Mars under its parachute. Now it's repeated the feat, with Curiosity. I think this image pretty much speaks for itself. Absolutely stunning.

I want you to sit back and think about what was going on when this was taken. Both spacecraft were operating totally autonomously, based upon commands uplinked to them a long time before. (Some timing parameters were updated hours before.) This is a spaceship at Mars, and we have a photo of it in action, just minutes before its historic landing. Incredible.

And beautiful.
 
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I for one can't wait to see the images taken by the rover during final descent after the heat shield was jetissoned!
 
  • #3
NASA released a low-res low framerate version of the "landing video" yesterday. It's a pretty amazing watch, especially the end with dust blowing and the wheel touching down. The video shows the last 2.5 minutes of the descent, starting with the heat shield falling away. Pretty fantasctic stuff, looking forward to the full-res video in a couple of weeks too.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=18895&media_id=149974611

Note the video is actually running at about 2.5x speed, due to the limited number of frames currently downloaded. The "real" video at 20 fps will be really nice...

Also a nice picture of the science "goal" mount sharp:
673885main_PIA15986-full_full.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html
 
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  • #5


I am truly amazed and impressed by the level of coordination and precision that went into capturing this incredible photograph. Not only did the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter successfully photograph the Curiosity rover during its parachute descent, but it did so while also relaying telemetry signals from the rover to Earth. This level of synchronization and teamwork between the teams at JPL and NASA is truly staggering and speaks to the incredible capabilities and technology that we have at our disposal.

The fact that both spacecraft were operating autonomously, following commands that were uplinked hours before, is a testament to the incredible engineering and planning that went into this mission. It is truly a feat of human ingenuity and a testament to our determination to explore and understand the universe around us.

The photograph itself is not only scientifically valuable, but also visually stunning. It captures a moment in history, just minutes before Curiosity's historic landing on Mars. It is a reminder of the incredible achievements that humanity is capable of when we work together towards a common goal.

Overall, I am truly impressed and inspired by this photograph and the successful landing of Curiosity on Mars. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams at JPL and NASA, and a reminder of the endless possibilities that lie ahead in our exploration of the universe.
 

What is MRO HiRISE?

MRO HiRISE is a high-resolution imaging instrument aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2006.

What is MSL Curiosity?

MSL Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory) is a rover that was sent to Mars by NASA in 2011 to explore the planet's surface and search for evidence of past microbial life.

How did MRO HiRISE photograph Curiosity's descent?

MRO HiRISE captured images of Curiosity's descent using its powerful camera, which can capture detailed images of the Martian surface from orbit. The spacecraft was programmed to take multiple images as Curiosity descended to the surface, allowing for a detailed view of the landing process.

Why was it important to photograph Curiosity's descent?

Photographing Curiosity's descent was important for several reasons. It provided valuable data and insights into the landing process, which can be used for future missions. It also allowed for a visual confirmation of the landing, providing a sense of accomplishment for the team behind the mission.

What did the images captured by MRO HiRISE reveal about Curiosity's descent?

The images captured by MRO HiRISE revealed the sequence of events during Curiosity's descent, including the deployment of its parachute, the separation of the heat shield, and the final landing on the surface. They also provided a detailed view of the landing site and the surrounding terrain, allowing for better understanding of the rover's environment.

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