Curiosity and the Cat
Scientists and mathematicians have always loved the “Alice” books. At Cheshire Cat Photo, we have always loved science! Last night, California time, a vehicle called “Curiosity” touched down ever-so-gently on the surface of Mars, my ruling planet (for those of you who are astrologically inclined 😉 ). More importantly, Curiosity made its flawless landing after a journey of about 352 million miles (567 million kilometers) that started last November.
As Douglas Adams said, in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
Scott Hubbard, the first Mars program director at NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) headquarters, who once served as director of NASA Ames Research Center (which I used to drive past every day) and who is now a consulting professor at Stanford University, said:
“This is a stunning achievement. The engineering went flawlessly.“
NASA said today that the 10 scientific instruments that are aboard Curiosity are in “perfect health,” and are undergoing calibration and testing. A lot of human beings who did not receive a scientific education may wonder about the scientist’s need for accuracy and precision. A lot of human activities are very much “looser” than science. Some of us grew up loving science for exactly that reason. If you think that “perception is reality,” then leap from a cliff and argue with gravity on the way down! 😉
Jennifer Trosper, a mission manager with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California said the rover will start sending weather data Tuesday but some of the “exciting science” won’t begin for about nine Mars days. She said:
“It does take time to check out the vehicle.”
The exciting soft-landing of Curiosity, which involved the world’s largest supersonic parachute and a sky crane, is only the beginning. The first images photographed are amazing enough, but the high-resolution images (and all of the great science!) are yet to follow!
Curiosity, which will be controlled from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has a full suite of sophisticated tools for exploring Mars. They include 17 cameras, a laser that can survey the composition of rocks from a distance and instruments that can analyze samples from soil or rocks.
So just sit back, wait for the photos and data to pour in, and let your OWN curiosity roam free!
-Bill at
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