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Posted by: tuvas May 21 2008, 06:46 PM

Okay, so there's only a few days till the landing, and I'm just curious, where will you all be? Just trying to keep a similar sounding thread to it's original purpose, that's all.

I am planning as of now to be at the LPL event at the University of Arizona. It should be interesting. I can only be there for about the hour around the landing time, but that's alright.

Posted by: Stu May 21 2008, 06:57 PM

I'll be sat in my living room here in Kendal, in "Computer Corner", from around 9pm right through until 4ish next morning, basically monitoring everything. Inbetween I am probably going to be doing a few "slots" on the phone with my local BBC radio station, Radio Cumbria, updating listeners on what's happening/happened, and there's a chance I might be on Radio 5 Live too, but haven't heard back from them about that. Luckily I'm off work all day Monday so I'll be able to follow post-landing events and coverage too.

So, if anyone else is having a "Phoenix Marathon" you know there'll be at least one other person here to keep you company!

Posted by: ustrax May 21 2008, 07:25 PM

Unrestless as I'm feeling I won't be capable of staying in one single place...

but home...mostly...I still don't know if I'll head to the office to wait for the post landing press conference...

Guys...100 Hours to Mars in 29 minutes!!!

EDITED: Have you seen my new header?...

Posted by: volcanopele May 21 2008, 07:28 PM

I will probably at the Sonnet building on the U of A campus. Or at the event in the Kuiper building.

Posted by: Phil Stooke May 21 2008, 07:35 PM

As luck would have it, flying from Ontario to Vancouver, BC that morning, and with uncertain access to the internet over the critical period. Still, I'll be on the West Coast, and that's good in itself.

Phil

Posted by: dvandorn May 21 2008, 07:54 PM

I'll be in my living room with NASA-TV running on my TV (I've got a great cable system, and I don't say that just because I work for them) and UMSF running on my computer. I'm hopeful we'll have the UMSF chat room running so we can exchange info and emotions.

-the other Doug

Posted by: ngunn May 21 2008, 09:31 PM

I've got a terrible confession to make. I'll be asleep. I'll turn on the BBC news in the morning.

Posted by: djellison May 21 2008, 09:47 PM

That's a stance I can totally appreciate. 'Wake me up when it's over' is perhaps the most sensible option.

I'll be in Patrick Moore's dining room bouncing off the walls probably.

Doug

Posted by: climber May 21 2008, 09:47 PM

We won't let you do that

Posted by: nprev May 22 2008, 12:22 AM

Sittin' at home, TV on CNN probably because I don't get NASA TV, the (terrible swear word describing cable company removed)s, one hand on the computer monitoring all the sites, two hamds typing in the UMSF chat, one hand holding a beer, one hand holding a stogie, and one hand popping peanuts into my mouth. (I'm having the extra hands installed on Friday; this is LA, after all, capital of unnecessary surgeries!)

Posted by: dmuller May 22 2008, 02:00 AM

I'll be making the 4 hour trip to the next town, which happens to be the Canberra DSN station (well, 45 mins out of Canberra). Hope to catch the landing there, but if I run late, I'll be watching it from a friends house in Canberra on the way to the DSN and go to the DSN for the first image.

On that note, can anybody tape / record the NASA TV stream (media stream preferred)?

Daniel

Posted by: mike May 22 2008, 02:21 AM

Does the Live Chat link work? When I click it in either Firefox or IE, I get the message 'Sorry, some required files are missing, if you intended to view a topic, it's possible that it's been moved or deleted. Please go back and try again.'

Posted by: mchan May 22 2008, 03:41 AM

At a wedding banquet for a relative where I will probably get weird looks by sneaking off to the bar and tipping the bartender to change the channel to CNN. I would probably get dirty looks if I had a mobile internet device.

Posted by: elakdawalla May 22 2008, 03:43 AM

For Americans who don't get NASA TV but do have decent cable, the Science Channel will be carrying live coverage from 7 to 9 ET, with Jim Garvin commentating.

And if you're stuck at a function without TV, try the Twitter feed -- have it send text messages to your celly.

Y'all know where I'll be

--Emily

Posted by: ElkGroveDan May 22 2008, 03:50 AM

No.

Posted by: dvandorn May 22 2008, 04:08 AM

Drat -- I've enjoyed the live chat function here when we've followed things like shuttle launches, Ariane launches, planetary probe launches... I was hoping we could do the same thing this weekend.

Any way the function might be active by then?

-the other Doug

Posted by: climber May 22 2008, 04:25 AM

I've got a flight on monday at 7am which is about 5 hours after landing. I'll have to leave home 3 hours after landing, hopefully after the first image(s) are down.
So, here is what I'm trying to do.
I've started since this week-end to go to bed earlier each day so I hope to be able to wake up 3 hours before landing after a decent sleep. I'll sleep again during transportation and hopefully not too much during my one week meeting!
I'll be home watching the landing using as many links as possible, UMSF & Nasa-TV & Emily's blog from the web been the 3 priorities, and YES, Rui, I'll watch SpacEurope too
Nice pressure feelings are building up here

Posted by: kwan3217 May 22 2008, 04:50 AM

Same place I was when Opportunity landed, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It's much more fun to do one of these events with many people around.

Posted by: DDAVIS May 22 2008, 05:26 AM

I will be at JPL, assuming the role of a journalist. I have been there for every Mars landing except Viking 2.

Don

Posted by: djellison May 22 2008, 07:19 AM

No. We had it for a while, but it was essentially, crap and rather unreliable and rather expensive. I'd suggest #space on irc.freenode. I wont have the time to monitor a chat room as well as everything else - someone else can do it

Doug

Posted by: remcook May 22 2008, 09:29 AM

I too will probably be sleeping.... Need my sleep! Will try and wake up early though to catch up on UMSF.

Posted by: Tesheiner May 22 2008, 09:47 AM

As I said http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=2108&view=findpost&p=113612, I will be zzzzzzzzz and will follow the whole EDL not in ERT (Earth Received Time) or SET (Spacecraft Event Time) but in LMABT (Late Morning After Breakfast Time).

Posted by: Skyrunner May 22 2008, 11:01 AM

I'll be at home eating peanuts until 6 am (western Europe) watching NTV and the websites posted here. It's gonna be an allnighter

Posted by: imipak May 22 2008, 12:06 PM

Thinking ahead about how it'll be here on UMSF - will there be a single main EDL topic so I can keep refreshing the same page? Shame about the lack of chat, IRC it is then. Hmmm... I'm gonna need a bigger monitor!

Incidentally I hacked up an ugly scrap of perl to drop the current landing countdown in my mail sigs, and a version that does a running on-screen (well, in-terminal) countdown - PM me if anyone'd like the source.

I'm following the excellent example of nprev regarding beer (http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=17&storycode=58298&c=1) and peanuts - I'm wondering about shelling out for a proper Monte Cristo and possibly a half-bottle of something fizzy and French as well... I don't want to tempt the ghoul, but I'm sure a noodly appendage will stretch forth unto Mars and poke it in the eye. Did someone say something about "excitement"? I'll get excited once we have an image of successful panel and arm deployment; until then it's just - "ph33r"...

Posted by: nprev May 22 2008, 12:10 PM

Right on, IM! (BTW, I do believe that you are the first person in the world to use the phrase "excellent example" with respect to any aspect of my behavior... )

Posted by: MahFL May 22 2008, 12:14 PM

I will be watching on the PC at home as we don't have nasa TV on cable.

Posted by: Pertinax May 22 2008, 12:24 PM

Having no cable (choice, not geography), as soon as the four wee ones are trundled off to bed (thinking we may go for short or no naps Sunday to help getting to bed by ~7PM EDT) I'll be glued to all the usual internet sites and praying that the NASA TV streams remain usable!

Thankfully my wife is just enough of a nerd to understand my love of mars and spaceflight that I don't anticipate toooo many sideways looks!


-- Pertinax

Posted by: Stu May 22 2008, 03:10 PM

Good idea, or things are going to get very messy and muxed up. How about starting a dedicated EDL thread when NASA TV coverage actually starts, so we're all chatting in the same place?

Posted by: djellison May 22 2008, 03:30 PM

Agreed. I will start a thread closer to the time.

An EDL thread
and then a new First comms pass thread as well.

Doug

Posted by: dvandorn May 22 2008, 04:50 PM

Not to try and offend any tea-totallers or professionally sober members we may have, but Nick's discussion of beer leads me to think of how I may use The Brew this Sunday.

I happen to have three-quarters of a case of Foster's in my kitchen. Assuming Phoenix lands safely, I will likely have one or two in celebration (and to wash down my peanuts). If it's not as good of a day as we all hope, I'll probably have several of them to savor the numbing effect...

-the other Doug

Posted by: imipak May 22 2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks! Proof that in the long run, even the most improbable events become possible...



Oh, I'm sorry to hear that; I feel your pain. Can't you get hold of any beer? Never mind, you'll find a use for it one day. Why, when we were without mains water for ten days during the great July 2007 Gloucester floods, it would have been perfect for flushing...

I was just reflecting that the only similar experience to the major set-pieces like landings or significant flybys are... election results! (No, wait, come back!) I've a secret double life as an armchair politics fan, and the election night party is an essential part of the fun. Usually you know in advance whether it's going to be a celebration or a wake, but I've had enough nights of unexpected highs and lows over the last thirty years of it to have picked up one useful thing about champagne: it's better for crying into than beer *)

Posted by: dvandorn May 22 2008, 07:09 PM

Actually, the Foster's we get in the U.S. is brewed in Canada by the same people who brew LaBatt's Blue. I doubt it bears much similarity, other than in packaging, to what's available down under.

Beers vary not as much by brand name as by where in the world they are brewed, I think. For example, when I visited England 11 years ago I fell in love with Caffrey's Irish Ale. I've found something with the same name here in the States, but nothing with the same flavor.

-the other Doug

Posted by: BrianL May 22 2008, 08:46 PM

And this makes it better?

Thankfully, I have several gallons of fine homebrewed ale on tap should I feel the need Sunday night to celebrate/drown my sorrows.

Brian

Posted by: climber May 23 2008, 04:44 AM

Not a long time ago (!) I realized this was not my fault is national soccer or rugby teams were losing, my prefered athletes didn't win races, rockets failed at launch and landings were not successful.
So I'm gona drink Champagne during Phoenix landing (and peanuts, just in case... )

Posted by: nprev May 23 2008, 05:08 AM

'Not eating peanuts is not an option!!!!'

Well, I can't afford champagne enough for this....which makes this post an excellent opportunity to solicit donations for the "Buy Nick Enough Beer to Help Him Survive EDL" drive!!!

I'm thinkin' about sixteen cases would do it. Please send money, gold or negotiable internal organs to PO Box e exp (pi)(i), New New York, 1001110101011.

Posted by: Zvezdichko May 23 2008, 07:12 AM

I'll be sitting right in front of my monitor, probably with a glass of beer in my hand and of course, eating peanuts

Posted by: Oersted May 23 2008, 11:55 AM

I will be in dublin, ireland, visiting friends, borrowing their computer sunday evening....

Posted by: fredk May 23 2008, 07:04 PM

I'll have as many computers going as I can find - I may even dig out my old windows '98 dinosaur.

I haven't heard anyone mention NASA's http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/ You can configure it to show Mars from the viewpoint of Phoenix. For me it's thrilling to sit with Phoenix and watch as the disc of Mars grows and grows as we approach landing! (The current angular diameter of Mars would also be a nice addition to dmuller's simulation.)

Currently Mars takes up about 3/4 of a degree, 50% larger than our moon appears to us:

(With my monitor/seating distance, the 20 degree field of view in this image matches what I actually see, so this is how big Mars actually appears to Phoenix!)

Posted by: imipak May 23 2008, 10:08 PM

Pop these up in separate tabs in Firefox (be kind to JPL - give the poor server a second or two between requests!), then Ctrl+PgUp along the row... hey presto, poor-man's animated GIF! View of Mars from Phoenix, all times UTC:

http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=24&year=2008&hour=00&minute=01&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=24&year=2008&hour=09&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=24&year=2008&hour=12&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=24&year=2008&hour=18&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=24&year=2008&hour=21&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=00&minute=01&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=03&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=06&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=09&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=12&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=15&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=18&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=19&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=20&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=21&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=22&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=22&minute=30&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=499&vbody=-84&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=23&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1

Posted by: dmuller May 24 2008, 12:47 AM

The view of Mars as seen from Phoenix gets very blurry once you hit around 23:00 UTC on 25 May. Remember that the Solar System Simulator uses spacecraft event time, and please do not use it beyond 23:32:00 on landing day as Phoenix is shown to bounce off (or fly through Mars) and back into outer space! This is at 23:45 spacecraft event time: http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=-84&vbody=1001&month=5&day=25&year=2008&hour=23&minute=45&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=30&porbs=1&showsc=1


Unfortunately it's too late now to add, but I'll gladly include it for other missions once I get around coding them. BTW, what's the formula?


I always wondered what settings to use to make it appear as seen by someone sitting on Phoenix. My knowledge of optics is really zero, I might just as well be theoretically blind

Daniel

Posted by: dmuller May 24 2008, 06:08 AM

Announcement for those following the Phoenix Real-Time Simulation at http://www.dmuller.net/phoenix
Just in case anything goes wrong with the server, there is a backup / mirror site of the script at http://www.dmuller.com/phoenix
Enjoy watching the landing! Daniel

Posted by: Doc May 24 2008, 10:43 AM

I will probably be sleeping when the EDL starts (East African Time 2am), But I guess I can spare a whole hour just for Phoenix. I hope however my almost insignificant alarm can wake me up in the middle of the night. My choice of drink will probably be strong coffee from the slopes of Kilimanjaro

God speed to Phoenix.....

Posted by: dmuller May 24 2008, 10:52 AM

Well if you drive to an event somewhere, just remember NOT to

• drive your car at a 13 degree angle after you pass the first speed restriction
• open the boot and think the parachute at the back of your car will slow you down in time for the second speed restiction
• open your fuel hatch after coming to a complete stop to vent helium
• call 1-800-ODYSSEY to tell your folks that you have arrived
• stay at the event after it is over because this is not a sample return mission

Posted by: Zvezdichko May 24 2008, 11:00 AM

You may laugh at me, but during sleep I was dreaming of parachutes, engine firings and so on

Posted by: Decepticon May 24 2008, 11:50 AM

I had a dream 2 days ago I was looking at first images that looked strangely like Spirit landing site.

Posted by: PhilCo126 May 24 2008, 12:13 PM

Indeed Peanuts are a must:
There is a tradition at JPL to eat "good luck peanuts" before critical mission events, such as orbital insertions or landings. As the story goes, after the Ranger program had experienced failure after failure during the 1960s, the first succesful mission of the Ranger program landed on the Moon while a JPL staffer was munching on peanuts. The staff jokingly decided that the peanuts must have been a good luck charm and the tradition persists today.

Posted by: Stu May 24 2008, 12:42 PM

Hmmm, we could all play a Phoenix Drinking - or Peanut Eating - game... you know, like people do when watching TV series, and mark off each cliche with a drink... (i.e. a Battlestar Galactica drinking game might include taking a drink every time one of the following happens: Baltar looks at the sky and asks "Why me?"... Starbuck punches a superior officer... Adama growls at Lee "You're still my son..."... someone says "Frak"... etc)

For Phoenix, a drink or peanut could be taken every time one of the following happens / is seen...

Before Landing

* A Stars and Stripes shirt is spotted in Mission Control
* A Phoenix shirt is spotted in Mission Control
* A mini Stars and Stripes flag is spotted at a console
* A bag or jar of peanuts on a console
* Someone eating peanuts
* A celebrity is seen in Mission Control
* A politician is seen in Mission Control
* A senior NASA official is spotted in Mission Control
* The NASA TV commentator says - unnecessarily - "Things are very tense here..."
* The NASA TV camera zooms in on a model of Phoenix sitting on someone's desk or console
* The NASA TV camera zooms in on a countdown clock

Waiting for Confirmation of Landing

* Someone is spotted with their face in their hands
* Someone is spotted with a hand nervously grabbing at their hair
* Someone is spotted chewing on a pencil (pen acceptable)

After Landing

* Someone leaps up with both fists shaking
* The first "bear hug"
* The first "High Five"
* A politician is spotted looking desperately for someone to congratulate on-camera
* The first person crying (no point allowed for seeing yourself reflected in your monitor!)
* Peanuts flying through the air

Any other suggestions..?

Posted by: ugordan May 24 2008, 12:49 PM

I don't know, Stu... With that many drink mark events you listed... well, let's just say some of us have work to get to the next morning!

Posted by: Stu May 24 2008, 12:50 PM

Doesn't have to be an alcoholic drink... anything to join in the fun!

Posted by: nprev May 24 2008, 12:52 PM

Let's see:

Before Landing

* The commentator uses the phrase "seven minutes of terror"
* The EDL video is replayed (or segments thereof)
* The commentator quotes the initial entry velocity

All I got, but with yours it should be enough to leave us all pretty full and/or pretty zonked by the end of it! I may have to go to rehab after this event...

Posted by: ugordan May 24 2008, 12:54 PM

Oh, silly me! I thought alcohol equals fun!

Posted by: climber May 24 2008, 12:54 PM

May be not worth a drink but I'm looking forward to see Ed Weiler's face during EDL. I don't think he'll stand it!

Posted by: Stu May 24 2008, 01:10 PM

It can do, sure, but I'm just mindful that UMSF is read by some of the Phoenix team, and didn't want to encourage any scenes like this...

Posted by: nprev May 24 2008, 02:11 PM

...Just for that, Stu, I'll be sure to emit a celebratory burp upon landing!

Posted by: Juramike May 24 2008, 03:19 PM

I'm all set.

I got a bag of roasted-and-salted in shell peanuts (will give me something to do to decrease nervous tension)
and a bottle of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clairette_de_Die_AOC chilled and ready for the celebration.

I just gotta make the tough choices: NASA-TV or Science channel?
What websites do I flick between and how quickly can I flick while flipping channels on the TV and shelling peanuts?

Posted by: elakdawalla May 24 2008, 03:57 PM

Neither any celebrities nor Ed Weiler will be in mission control. Celebrities aren't permitted in mission control until after a successful landing, becuase they'd be too distracting. Weiler was supposed to be at Planetfest, actually, but now says he has a more important engagement, meeting with the head of the Canadian space program.

--Emily

Posted by: nprev May 24 2008, 04:01 PM

Amazingly enough, CNN is even going to run special coverage of the landing beginning @ 1900 EDT (2300 GMT).

Glad to see additional exposure; maybe public interest is increasing?

Posted by: dvandorn May 24 2008, 04:16 PM

Honestly, I doubt it. Cable news isn't as reflective of public interest as you might think. I'd be more tempted to believe CNN will cover the event with a certain interest because Miles O'Brien, their science correspondent, has a major interest in the landing and has been effective in selling the coverage to his superiors.

O'Brien has been a worthy successor at CNN, overall, to John Holliman, the late science correspondent who was at the top of NASA's list in its informal Journalist in Space considerations many years ago. It was (and is) a tragedy that Holliman was killed in a car accident, but O'Brien has maintained CNN's committment to carrying major space events. (And no, I don't think it's because he happens to share a name with a major Star Trek character...)

-the other Doug

Posted by: ustrax May 24 2008, 04:32 PM

I will now get myself away from the internet to get a good night sleep...
But I would like to leave you guys with the music thatwill wake me tomorrow...
Maybe we can get somehow tuned all across the globe listening to this...powerful...great...just great...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DEKC5pyOKFU

Posted by: Stu May 24 2008, 04:59 PM

That was actually a joke, Emily Though I'd pay good money to see Paris Hilton in there tomorrow night, complete with yappy little dog peering out of the bling-encrusted bag under her arm, looking utterly bemused by the whole thing...

Quick clip for WEST WING fans... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TkzLnUNeVo should bring back some happy memories... Forget that the probe in the series, um, failed... that's not the point... the point is that , for me, this little scene captured the drama and, yes, nobility of space exploration, and whenever I hear Sam reading out this passage I genuinely feel touched.

I miss THE WEST WING so much. So much.

Posted by: Spirit May 24 2008, 05:01 PM

At work. No TVs, no PCs

Posted by: Stu May 24 2008, 05:09 PM

Maybe you can take a radio in or something? Or sign up to the Phoenix Twitter page for text updates to your mobile?(not sure if that's a US service only...)

If that fails, open a window at the appropriate time... if you hear shouting and whooping and hollerin' that'll be UMSF members celebrating! If you hear nothing, well...

Posted by: dvandorn May 24 2008, 05:59 PM

That was an excellent episode. However, this clip doesn't contain my favorite exchange from it.

The Galileo V mission being presented is a barely fictionalized version of the MPL debacle, complete with the DS2 penetrators. Someone is explaining to Josh how the penetrators were supposed to work -- falling unrestrained by braking systems to smash into the ground at hundreds of km per hour and penetrating into it, after which they were expected to work perfectly. At which point, Josh says something about how he didn't think NASA spacecraft depended on the Acme school of physics...


Me too, Stu. Me, too.

-the other Doug

Posted by: scalbers May 24 2008, 06:30 PM

I'll probably be at home. With a DSL connection and laptop I can pipe NASA TV into my TV and stereo to get a good display.

Nice that is the most Viking-like landing since - well - Viking!

Steve

Posted by: PFK May 24 2008, 07:02 PM

Hello Folks
As a (very) long time lurker, registration has finally been prompted by the upcoming events.
As someone involved in research chemistry for the last quarter of a century I'm well acquainted with the ups and (many) downs of the scientific process and yet I have to say I can't even begin to imagine how nerve-wracking the upcoming event must be for those at the sharp end, or even the many on here who, while not directly involved, are clearly utterly smitten by the event thanks to their prowess in the field. Professionally, I’m used to being in a situation where the answers come pretty quickly and you can always have a hands on part to play in the outcome; to be effectively helpless at the key phase of the experiment must be awful - but then the satisfaction all the more glorious when it works.
What astonishing times we are in when the information on events such as this is accessible so immediately; I’m trying to convince my 10 year old nephew to stay up and monitor it - perhaps if it was marketed as a Dr Who event by the BBC he might listen! (Stu, he’s just down the road from you in Carnforth - have a word!!). But seriously, the educational potential - and really, therefore, the inspirational potential (for future players in this field) - of events such as this are now colossal. And I have to say UMSF more than plays its part in that.
As for me on the night? Well to beer or not to beer, that is the question….

Posted by: djellison May 24 2008, 08:49 PM

Loughborough....fairly damn close to Leicester

Fortunately, you wont here the roof come of my house with the cheers of succesfull EDL, as I'll be in Selsey

Doug

Posted by: Rakhir May 24 2008, 09:29 PM

At home with my two laptops, watching Nasa TV, UMSF, blogs updates... all the night until 5am (Central Europe Time) when I have to leave for the airport to Torino.
And on arrival at Torino, first thing to do: open my mobile to check for Twitter updates.

Posted by: PFK May 24 2008, 09:51 PM

well I just checked and it's only about 140 miles away, so if I keep my front window open there's a good chance I'll hear something if the wind is in the right direction Fingers crossed

Posted by: fredk May 24 2008, 10:07 PM

If r is the radius of Mars, and d our current distance to the centre of Mars (not the surface), then the full disc of Mars will subtend an angle 2*arcsin(r/d). Here arcsin is the inverse sine, also written sin^(-1).

Doing the calculation with the current distance, I get that Mars subtends 1.5 degrees right now. That agrees with the solar system simulator:

The disc will rapidly increase in size now. Fasten your seatbelts!!

Posted by: karolp May 24 2008, 11:15 PM

For the first time in history of Mars landings, I will be in front of the computer with NASA TV and UMSF on. A great time to be alive.

Posted by: dmuller May 24 2008, 11:39 PM

Arrghh silly me ... that's just first grade trigonometry, now isnt it. Brain to mission control - need more coffee! Thanks Fred.
Daniel

Posted by: imipak May 24 2008, 11:43 PM

There are now less than 24 hours to go until landing, spacecraft event time. Hasn't the time gone fast...

Posted by: dvandorn May 24 2008, 11:48 PM

Not yet! 24 hours and five minutes, as I type this...

-the other Doug

Posted by: dvandorn May 24 2008, 11:53 PM

In exactly 24 hours from this moment, I'll either be celebrating, or feeling incredibly sad...

-the other Doug

Posted by: MarsEngineer May 25 2008, 12:45 AM

Hi all,

I will be at JPL tomorrow but, unlike the last three Mars landings, I will not be in the Mission Support Area (MSA) for EDL this time. I will be watching monitors in one of the conference rooms very near by in an adjacent building with some Caltech guests. I will pop in about a half hour after landing to give them congrats. Being in the MSA during EDL can be a tad stressful and besides, this is the Phoenix team's time to shine. I am very excited for them. They have worked very hard and I am proud for them.

I also plan to swing by Planetfest that evening. I will fly to Tuscon early on Monday where I will spend a few days to make sure all is well (they really do not need my help! But I will cheer them on.)

None of us are smart enough to predict the future, but I believe that the Phoenix team has done everything they could have done (short of starting from scratch) to get this machine to work.

have a fun weekend!

-Rob Manning

Posted by: monty python May 25 2008, 02:28 AM

Thank you ustrax! I'd never heard of The Arcade Fire before. I'm a richer man now. Sleep well and dream of a smooth landing.

Brian

Posted by: vmcgregor May 25 2008, 03:26 AM

I'll be at JPL as I've been for the past four landings. The first two (Pathfinder/Polar Lander) I was covering for CNN (producing for John Zarrella/John Holliman/Miles O'Brien). For the last two (Spirit/Opportunity) I had the pleasure of working for JPL. So this makes 5 - wow, I can hardly believe it! For Phoenix, I may be in the press room, or perhaps in mission control (escorting the press photog-- someone has to do it, right?) but no matter where I am I'll definitely be twittering updates. I have two jars of dry-roasted peanuts ready to open at the appropriate time... I only wish I could down a beer with them (a Belgium Duvels would be lovely) but alas, no alcohol allowed at work! Don and Emily, I'll see you at the briefing tomorrow. And we'll be thinking about the rest of you on UMSF and hoping that your kind thoughts and best wishes help guide Phoenix to a soft landing. It's been a real boost the to Phoenix team to know that so many people are cheering them on!

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 04:33 AM

Thanks Veronica, it's REALLY nice to get messages from you, one insider. It make me feel personaly very close to the Team and the event.
I've found people in a very good mood in the today's conference, both the press as well as the scientists. Peter asking A.J.S. Rayl if she was trying to date him today was hillarous .This contributes to, I hope, a good mood for all UMSF'ers here.
For the ones that didn't get to see the conference: http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/video/Conference/replay6.php

Posted by: tedstryk May 25 2008, 04:39 AM

I really regret planning a road trip this week. I probably won't see a TV or computer until Monday morning. Oh well...

Posted by: brellis May 25 2008, 08:19 AM

Holliman's enthusiasm for Pathfinder was infectious. He'd love the spirit and the intelligent discussion UMSF brings to these already exciting moments in space exploration.

Posted by: edstrick May 25 2008, 10:56 AM

I'll be in front of the TV where I've been for all but one "televised live" planetary landings since Surveyor 1 (Later Surveyors weren't live), recording multiple video streams. NASA-TV, and either Science Channel or CNN (probably) for DVD recording, one other channel, maybe the Science Channel for hard-drive recording.

I was on a 2 1/2 week vacation for Pathfinder and my (imagined) mental deteoriation began with the brain-burning frustration of having absolutely no significant radio reception from where we were: north of the Grand Canyon, driving east to cross the Colorado River and go climbing through slot-canyons the next few days. It wasn't till we barely heard a on-the-hour newscast that we heard that Pathfinder had landed.

Posted by: Reckless May 25 2008, 11:21 AM

Hi all

Not as exotic as many of you but nonetheless here's Mission Control Jersey UK with MER model keeping it's eyes on the main screen.
Just above the desk are to moon landing panaramas.

Roy

Posted by: Oersted May 25 2008, 11:39 AM

Rob, Veronica, thanks for popping in here with a few words for us space enthusiasts!

Sunny day in Dublin, Eire, where I`ll be going on a long countryside walk with a lovely Irish lass... So hopes are high for both Phoenix and... no, I`d better stop here...

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 11:45 AM

From a NEW SCIENTIST story today...

"In addition to the peanuts, lucky blueberries will also make an appearance - a nod to the Opportunity rover, which found iron-rich spherules, nicknamed blueberries, soon after it became the last spacecraft to successfully touch down on Mars."

Blueberries too?!?! I am NOT going to Asda again! They're going to think I'm scouting out the place for a robbery!

Oersted: that's a soft-focus Corrs video, right there...

Posted by: tedstryk May 25 2008, 11:48 AM

He was by far the best space reporter the mainstream media had to offer. His loss was tragic.

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 11:56 AM

Mark...T minus 12 hours...

Posted by: eeergo May 25 2008, 12:33 PM

It will be a bit late for me over here, considering on Monday I have classes, but that's what laptops are for! I'll be watching from bed, although I'm afraid with all the excitement I won't be able to sleep as fast as I should once we get the news. Not incredibly glamorous, but that will have to do

They should cancel the classes at my faculty, after all I study physics and this is a really important scientific moment... or at least organize a Phoenix party so that waking up wouldn't be so painful? Having breakfast with blueberries is another option.

Posted by: Doc May 25 2008, 12:51 PM

Alright then.... I dont expect to visit UMSF for a while from now. So to all those with us now let us pray for a safe landing and a chance to finally see the arctic region from the surface.

Once again GOD SPEED TO PHOENIX.

Posted by: tim53 May 25 2008, 01:49 PM

Keep your digits crossed, folks!

I have internet access for a bit, so am checking in. Turns out we won't have an internet link at the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference, but we'll be watching on Satellite TV!

-Tim.

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 01:52 PM

I'm gonna do digits, eyes, legs, everything I can think of!

BTW...T minus 10 hours and counting...

Posted by: Bill Harris May 25 2008, 01:57 PM

I may still be busy away from the 'puter, but I'll catch the evening news.

This is a far cry from the first Mariner flyby. A few 200x200 pixel images that took four days to be transmitted to Earth. The first view of Mars was via newspaper halftone a day or so after the flyby.

Same thrill, though...

--Bill

Posted by: imipak May 25 2008, 02:36 PM

T -9:00; ...is the Solar System Simulator down, or is it just me?

Posted by: MahFL May 25 2008, 03:16 PM

I could not get the simulator working yesterday.

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 03:43 PM

T-8 hrs.

Didn't work for me earlier today, either; wonder if they're getting hammered.

Posted by: Gonzz May 25 2008, 03:52 PM

I'll be working at home and following the landing at the same time, absolutely glued to the computer screen (but not necessarily glued to my work ) .

Tonight is going to be an all nighter, I'm absolutely confident on a sucessfull landing, go Pheonix! Almost there now

See all of you folks later here at UMSF to start the celebrations!

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 04:00 PM

Here at Mission Control Kendal preparations are well underway for the Phoenix landing... Pluto (as in "... is still a planet", my much-travelled mascot Outreach mascot ) is sitting on top of Monitor A which is showing the Daniel Muller countdown, and a big bag of NASA approved dry roasted peanuts is next to Monitor B, displaying UMSF...

Tick tick tick...

Posted by: MarsEngineer May 25 2008, 04:01 PM

I have to second Veronica's comment. Even though these teams work in a "fishbowl", when you are on the inside it is surprisingly easy to think that you are all alone and to forget that there are people outside of the bowl who are cheering for you.

Back in 1994 when we were designing and testing Mars Pathfinder, we were (mostly) all holed up on the 2nd floor of windowless building 230 (just a few feet above the MSA room where you will see tension and cheering this afternoon). For some reason we thought we were the only people on the planet who were interested in building a lander and a little rover to go to Mars. For me that impression was forever washed away (in a good way) in Oct of '94. That was when a few of us engineers joined some scientists (like Matt G) and teachers on a field trip to the channeled scablands of eastern Washington state (my home state). After a week of imagining our spacecraft bouncing and driving over these rough terrains, we were asked to stop by a junior high school in Spokane to talk to students and the locals one rainy friday night. We had few materials to share but neither did we expect many visitors. To our complete and utter amazement, we were overwhelmed with excited kids, parents and teachers. They heard about our visit via a small notice in the local paper. Interest had spread like wildfire.

After that we were transformed. We suddenly realized that we were not alone on that crowded 2nd floor. We stopped doing this mission for ourselves and instead realized that we were doing it for a lot of people (people like you). It scared us but it made us more commited than ever to succeed.

I have occasionally reminded the Phoenix team members to step outside their fishbowl and look around them (UMSF is one of my examples). As it did with me in 1994, it also scares them to see so many people watching over their shoulders, but it also helps bring an intense focus and an unselfishness to their work. It is no longer about making their "bosses" happy, it is about being entrusted to try hard and good things for our precious humanity. Its a big, proud hat to wear, but one that is not easily earned. I think this team has earned its hat, regardless of what happens today.

Your enthusiasm and support for what we humbly attempt makes a huge difference for us. Thank you all.

GO PHOENIX!

-Rob

Posted by: fredk May 25 2008, 04:19 PM

Me too. But according to dmuller's real time simulation, I calculate the current angular size of Mars to be just over 4.5 degrees. That's nine times the diameter (more than 80 times the area) of the moon from Earth! Just imagine that view out the "front window" of Phoenix! I'm sure you could pick out many land features by eye now...

Posted by: Gonzz May 25 2008, 04:21 PM

Mars Pathfinder made me fall in love with space exploration.

I was sitting at home, late night, watching CNN live, waiting for those precious little images of a new world.

When I first saw them they changed me, they changed the way I understood Earth, Mars and the Universe. Outer space became real to me. A physical reality, no longer an abstraction. I was in awe.

You made me peer outward, for that I am tremendously thankfull.
Thank you so much

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 04:29 PM

Thanks for that Rob. And if any of the Phoenix team get to read this whilst lurking in the UMSF shadows (when they REALLY should be working on a safe landing!! Oi! Get back to work and stop skiving!! ) then can I wish you all a successful night, and just let you know that we are already in awe of what you've achieved, and proud of your determination and drive, regardless of which numbers the cosmic dice show in 7 hours time.

Go get 'em guys!

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 04:40 PM

Thanks for that, Rob! And, of course, to all members of the Phoenix team who might read this we DEFINITELY aren't trying to put any pressure on you; hell, we're your biggest fans, think of us as an online support system!

Godspeed, good luck, good feelings, and hang in there!

Posted by: Ant103 May 25 2008, 04:43 PM

A post just to sayt that I will be with you for the landing of Phoenix. I don't want to miss it, even if it will be late (about 4 o'clock, gargle...).
Go Phoenix .

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 04:51 PM

FYI, just tried to go to the UA Phoenix site; didn't work. Think they're starting to get hammered. We (UMSF) are getting busier too...

Posted by: mhoward May 25 2008, 04:54 PM

Good luck and godspeed, Phoenix. I'll be watching from my patio in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

Posted by: Gonzz May 25 2008, 04:59 PM

Arrgh! All this tension is making me go absolutely NUTS!! PEANUTS that is..

(ducks for cover)

Posted by: dvandorn May 25 2008, 05:03 PM

And I'll be watching just a few miles from you, Mike, from the living room of my house in Minneapolis.

-the other Doug

Posted by: lyford May 25 2008, 05:07 PM

I may be mixing my missions, but I stopped by http://www.mitsuwa.com/ the other night to stock up and now I am ready for the landing! My local cable company no longer carries NASA TV, so I am praying the broadband stays up for the launch.

Go Phoenix!

Posted by: Skyrunner May 25 2008, 05:26 PM

Twitter text messages work for me in the Netherlands so they should probably work elswere as well.

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 05:37 PM

T- 6 hours.

I'm not here, but here's a shot of my hometown taken about 50 feet north of the house I grew up in, looking east:

Posted by: Ant103 May 25 2008, 05:40 PM

My place for observing Phoenix EDL

Edit : it seems that NASA's solar system simulator is down, no?

Posted by: MahFL May 25 2008, 05:45 PM

Do we have an active chat room ?
the one on here does not work for me

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 05:47 PM

Nope; no chat. Unless somebody smart wants to start one up somewhere?

Posted by: imipak May 25 2008, 05:50 PM

MarsEngineer: you know, probably every person on the planet with an interest in space exploration is sending the team their good luck wishes and support right now. "Win one for the Terrans!" :>

I was setting this shot up, getting the fizz out of the fridge, lining up the peanuts, the Zantac, the Monte Cristo and looking for my UMSF t-shirt... when I noticed the http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Easy-Avoid-Computer-Disaster/dp/0684868350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211737315&sr=8-1 which, really and truly, does sit there on my desk to the left of the laptop. I come from the Provisional Wing of the 'brights', (a badly-named bunch of militant rationalists), but... I'm taking that book down and putting it away out of sight for the rest of the evening. Ahh such powerful atavistic urges...

PS yes, it's a Sun UltraSparc E4000, every home should have one!


PPS MahFL: no, UMSF chat's broken. (Any chance an admin could comment out that link?) The IRC #space channel on (I think) Undernet was mentioned as an alternative.

Posted by: mhoward May 25 2008, 06:04 PM

There's #space on irc.freenode.net. The board chat won't be available, AFAIK.

Posted by: MahFL May 25 2008, 06:10 PM

Ok I am in #space on freenode, been ages since I was in there.

Posted by: lyford May 25 2008, 06:12 PM

Emily's doing another http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001442/, though we probably shouldn't hijack the Planetary Society's outreach just yet*




*According to my schedule, that takeover is not planned until after MSL lands

Posted by: As old as Voyager May 25 2008, 06:48 PM

I'll try watching the 'Guided tour of Mars landing' video on:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/

Watching the simulation as the real Phoenix is doing the same should be pretty cool. Then its wait for the first images, depends on how tired I get!

Posted by: marsbug May 25 2008, 06:55 PM

Munching peanuts and hiding behind a pillow....

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 06:56 PM

T-...less than 5 hours and your special cookie is here!

I must admit...more than the indicated amount of beer is in place...

Rob...Veronica (you special woman!...)...never lived a day like this one...magic...pure magic!

All of you "other guys"...we're getting there!

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 06:59 PM

Where have YOU been hiding? Eurovision wasn't THAT bad!

Posted by: tuvas May 25 2008, 07:04 PM

If things go well (Namely, I can get internet access), I'll try to post some things from the University of Arizona thing, on my almost dead blog at tuvas21.blogspot.com.

Posted by: Shaka May 25 2008, 07:06 PM

Look out, Veronica, he's on the prowl!
If he bearhugs men, just imagine.....

Posted by: Pete B. May 25 2008, 07:10 PM

I'm watching from Maryland, across the the street from Goddard. Evidently no NASA Channel on the new cable service (Fios) but then neither did Comcast. Maybe Cspan will pick it up?
Anyway, here's my viewing station. Still have to go out to get peanuts.

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 07:22 PM

Stu...13rd...I'll face that as a good omen... :

Shaka...Veronica is REALLY someone who deserves all our respect and admiration...I would hug her...definitely...
And you...and your dog...and a tree...ah well...everything!

Posted by: imipak May 25 2008, 07:23 PM

My father ran his first marathon today, at the age of 65 [True! 6h 5m, around Edinburgh... well done, Dad! ] And you know, that reminds me of... drinking tactics. For, as your Uncle nPrev will tell you, just like marathon running, it's all about pacing yourself, making sure of reserves of energy, not wearing yourself out in the first five miles... or "doing a Paula" *)

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 07:29 PM

Yep... ...gonna crack Cold One #1 in about two hours...think I'll need it just for the tranquilizing effect!

Rui, thanks for posting my very lately-submitted column. In an act of shameless self-promotion, if anyone would like to read it it's at http://www.spaceurope.blogspot.com/.


Go Phoenix!!!

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 07:44 PM

You know...we Portuguese are used to http://www.superbock.pt/ so it won't be today that I'll be KO...
Also...I'll get myself a nice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carne_de_porco_%C3%A0_alentejana meal...no problem...

Nick...are you there?...

Terrific to think that has I write this words Phoenix is, actually seing Mars bigger and bigger and almost entering its domains...how cool is that?!

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 07:47 PM

I'm here, Captain my Captain...now clean them beer butterflies off of your stomach!!!

Posted by: Gonzz May 25 2008, 07:49 PM

How cool is that?

As cool as a nice SuperBock beer straight from the fridge!

Posted by: fredk May 25 2008, 07:51 PM

Mars currently occupying 8 degrees from Phoenix! And very rapidly growing...

P.S. - does anyone know if cashew nuts work as well?

PPS - I loved the line from the recent New Scientist story:

Definitely a good thing to have a process to go through!

Posted by: volcanopele May 25 2008, 07:52 PM

I am quite shocked that the local stations here (Tucson) aren't covering the landing live. I was half expecting that.

Posted by: Steve G May 25 2008, 08:00 PM

Three hours, forty minutes to go. The Canadian news is quiet, which is surprising since there is a Canadian contribution to the mission. Here in Kelowna, BC, we are opening the new bridge and there's a big bridge party. So, alas, my sister visiting, I'm going to have to do a delicate balance of partying and watching the landing.

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 08:02 PM

Yeah, really! When I lived there the community was very pro-space, even to the point of passing that light-pollution law to preserve Kitt Peak's capabilities.

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 08:05 PM

Carpe Diem!!!
Never a Super Bock cause damage to me...

Well...less than 4 hours to go and I'm a bit lost...(oops...you tricky SuperBock...) where's the place to be now?...

EDITED: Just seen it...a cool guy in brown with two guys I don't know in white...following it while inaugurating a cheese...

EDITED 2: Gonzz!!! Are we sharing Super Bocks now?! Where are you?!
We must gather after all this is over!
Sent a PM a few minutes ago...

Posted by: belleraphon1 May 25 2008, 08:16 PM

Here in Akron, Ohio, will be watching from the internet on NASA TV. At 55, and having been around for the media take on past missions (from Ranger to MRO) do not trust public airwaves.....

Just glad have a link to NASA TV and YOU FOLKS at unmannedspaceflight...and the Planetary Society blog from Emily and company....

SO.... I have the jar of peanuts.... Great Lakes Beer (Elliot Ness), and a flask of Jack Daniels for touchdown!!!!!!

May those footpads grace the alien regolith, and deliver some secrets to us all.....

go Phoenix...

Craig

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 08:26 PM

Okay, I'm a geek, I admit it... I've hooked up my PC projector to give my front room that "Mission Control" look...

Posted by: paxdan May 25 2008, 08:29 PM

ha ha nice. I just got myself a shiny new 24" iMac to watch on

Posted by: Ant103 May 25 2008, 08:30 PM

Ha ha ha Stu, great. Just put on your head a headphone with micro. "Report status from here, ear you me?" .

I began to be more and more excited . Ahhh, Phoenix... .

Posted by: hal_9000 May 25 2008, 08:36 PM

What happened to the chat?

Posted by: MahFL May 25 2008, 08:38 PM

chat is not being used, we are on #space on freenode irc

Posted by: hal_9000 May 25 2008, 08:41 PM

Thanks! I'm going to install ChatZilla!

Posted by: kwan3217 May 25 2008, 08:43 PM

Turns out I'm going to be at my desk at home. I have my viewing station ready (Two computers, many web browsers, and Orbiter simulator) and I have my jar of peanuts ready. According to tradition, what is the proper peanut deployment sequence? When should I open them? What should I do with them? It would be awful to have peanuts and to do them wrong

Posted by: fredk May 25 2008, 09:01 PM

Love the setup, Stu!

Mars now 11 degrees wide and growing...

Posted by: dmuller May 25 2008, 09:09 PM

The real-time simulation has 2,500 site views in the period of 35 to 9 hours prior to landing ... between 9 to 2.5 hours to landing, it's already been 5,500 visits. I'm too scared to look at the page views.
I managed to wake up, so that's good.
Stu, Fredk ... all that's missing is the view of Mars in the background of the script, isnt it :-(
Go Phoenix!

Posted by: mhoward May 25 2008, 09:17 PM

For just a second I thought it was the MST3K guys in front of the movie, Stu. :-)

Emily's http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-lakdawalla presentation was awesome... looking forward to the next one.

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 09:27 PM

You're doing well Rui.
We'd better all switch to SpacEurope
Getting prety exited too

Posted by: fredk May 25 2008, 09:27 PM

Oooohh - you've got me drooling now. Your script as a heads-up display in front of the solar system simulator...

Posted by: Alex Chapman May 25 2008, 09:35 PM

My setup. Rigged up at the last minute with me and my wife's laptops after my Pc's PSU died on Friday

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 09:39 PM

I had thought, better do it early than late.
This is UMSF control center. I'm gona check if every body's ready to go.
Here is where you're supposed to be and now starts the poll :
(no answer needed BTW )

tuvas
I am planning as of now to be at the LPL event at the University of Arizona. It should be interesting. I can only be there for about the hour around the landing time, but that's alright.
Stu
I'll be sat in my living room here in Kendal, in "Computer Corner", from around 9pm right through until 4ish next morning, basically monitoring everything. In between I am probably going to be doing a few "slots" on the phone with my local BBC radio station, Radio Cumbria, updating listeners on what's happening/happened, and there's a chance I might be on Radio 5 Live too, but haven't heard back from them about that. Luckily I'm off work all day Monday so I'll be able to follow post-landing events and coverage too.
ustrax
Unrestless as I'm feeling I won't be capable of staying in one single place...
but home...mostly...I still don't know if I'll head to the office to wait for the post landing press conference...
volcanopele
I will probably at the Sonnet building on the U of A campus. Or at the event in the Kuiper building.
Phil Stooke
As luck would have it, flying from Ontario to Vancouver, BC that morning, and with uncertain access to the internet over the critical period. Still, I'll be on the West Coast, and that's good in itself.
dvandorn
I'll be in my living room with NASA-TV running on my TV (I've got a great cable system, and I don't say that just because I work for them) and UMSF running on my computer. I'm hopeful we'll have the UMSF chat room running so we can exchange info and emotions.
Ngunn
I've got a terrible confession to make. I'll be asleep. I'll turn on the BBC news in the morning.
djellison
I'll be in Patrick Moore's dining room bouncing off the walls probably.
nprev
Sittin' at home, TV on CNN probably because I don't get NASA TV, the (terrible swear word describing cable company removed)s, one hand on the computer monitoring all the sites, two hamds typing in the UMSF chat, one hand holding a beer, one hand holding a stogie, and one hand popping peanuts into my mouth. (I'm having the extra hands installed on Friday; this is LA, after all, capital of unnecessary surgeries!)
dmuller
I'll be making the 4 hour trip to the next town, which happens to be the Canberra DSN station (well, 45 mins out of Canberra). Hope to catch the landing there, but if I run late, I'll be watching it from a friends house in Canberra on the way to the DSN and go to the DSN for the first image.
mchan
At a wedding banquet for a relative where I will probably get weird looks by sneaking off to the bar and tipping the bartender to change the channel to CNN. I would probably get dirty looks if I had a mobile internet device.
elakdawalla
Y'all know where I'll be
climber
I'll be home watching the landing using as many links as possible, UMSF & Nasa-TV & Emily's blog from the web been the 3 priorities, and YES, Rui, I'll watch SpacEurope too
kwan3217
Same place I was when Opportunity landed, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It's much more fun to do one of these events with many people around.
DDAVIS
I will be at JPL, assuming the role of a journalist. I have been there for every Mars landing except Viking 2.
remcook
I too will probably be sleeping.... Need my sleep! Will try and wake up early though to catch up on UMSF.
Tesheiner
I will be zzzzzzzzz and will follow the whole EDL not in ERT (Earth Received Time) or SET (Spacecraft Event Time) but in LMABT (Late Morning After Breakfast Time).
Skyrunner
I'll be at home eating peanuts until 6 am (western Europe) watching NTV and the websites posted here. It's gonna be an allnighter
MahFL
I will be watching on the PC at home as we don't have nasa TV on cable.
Zvezdichko
I'll be sitting right in front of my monitor, probably with a glass of beer in my hand and of course, eating peanuts
Oersted
I will be in dublin, ireland, visiting friends, borrowing their computer sunday evening....
fredk
I'll have as many computers going as I can find - I may even dig out my old windows '98 dinosaur.
Doc
I will probably be sleeping when the EDL starts (East African Time 2am), But I guess I can spare a whole hour just for Phoenix. I hope however my almost insignificant alarm can wake me up in the middle of the night. My choice of drink will probably be strong coffee from the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Juramike
I'm all set.I got a bag of roasted-and-salted in shell peanuts (will give me something to do to decrease nervous tension)
and a bottle of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clairette_de_Die_AOC chilled and ready for the celebration.
I just gotta make the tough choices: NASA-TV or Science channel?
What websites do I flick between and how quickly can I flick while flipping channels on the TV and shelling peanuts?
Spirit
At work. No TVs, no PCs
scalbers
I'll probably be at home. With a DSL connection and laptop I can pipe NASA TV into my TV and stereo to get a good display.
Rakhir
At home with my two laptops, watching Nasa TV, UMSF, blogs updates... all the night until 5am (Central Europe Time) when I have to leave for the airport to Torino.And on arrival at Torino, first thing to do: open my mobile to check for Twitter updates.
karolp
For the first time in history of Mars landings, I will be in front of the computer with NASA TV and UMSF on. A great time to be alive.
MarsEngineer
I will be at JPL tomorrow but, unlike the last three Mars landings, I will not be in the Mission Support Area (MSA) for EDL this time. I will be watching monitors in one of the conference rooms very near by in an adjacent building with some Caltech guests. I will pop in about a half hour after landing to give them congrats. Being in the MSA during EDL can be a tad stressful and besides, this is the Phoenix team's time to shine. I am very excited for them. They have worked very hard and I am proud for them.
I also plan to swing by Planetfest that evening. I will fly to Tuscon early on Monday where I will spend a few days to make sure all is well (they really do not need my help! But I will cheer them on.)None of us are smart enough to predict the future, but I believe that the Phoenix team has done everything they could have done (short of starting from scratch) to get this machine to work.
vmcgregor
I'll be at JPL as I've been for the past four landings. The first two (Pathfinder/Polar Lander) I was covering for CNN (producing for John Zarrella/John Holliman/Miles O'Brien). For the last two (Spirit/Opportunity) I had the pleasure of working for JPL. So this makes 5 - wow, I can hardly believe it! For Phoenix, I may be in the press room, or perhaps in mission control (escorting the press photog-- someone has to do it, right?) but no matter where I am I'll definitely be twittering updates. I have two jars of dry-roasted peanuts ready to open at the appropriate time... I only wish I could down a beer with them (a Belgium Duvels would be lovely) but alas, no alcohol allowed at work! Don and Emily, I'll see you at the briefing tomorrow. And we'll be thinking about the rest of you on UMSF and hoping that your kind thoughts and best wishes help guide Phoenix to a soft landing. It's been a real boost the to Phoenix team to know that so many people are cheering them on!
tedstryk
I really regret planning a road trip this week. I probably won't see a TV or computer until Monday morning. Oh well...
edstrick
I'll be in front of the TV where I've been for all but one "televised live" planetary landings since Surveyor 1 (Later Surveyors weren't live), recording multiple video streams. NASA-TV, and either Science Channel or CNN (probably) for DVD recording, one other channel, maybe the Science Channel for hard-drive recording
Reckless
Not as exotic as many of you but nonetheless here's Mission Control Jersey UK with MER model keeping it's eyes on the main screen.
Bill Harris
I may still be busy away from the 'puter, but I'll catch the evening news.
eeergo
It will be a bit late for me over here, considering on Monday I have classes, but that's what laptops are for! I'll be watching from bed, although I'm afraid with all the excitement I won't be able to sleep as fast as I should once we get the news
tim53I
have internet access for a bit, so am checking in. Turns out we won't have an internet link at the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference, but we'll be watching on Satellite TV!
Gonzz
I'll be working at home and following the landing at the same time, absolutely glued to the computer screen (but not necessarily glued to my work)
Ant103A
post just to sayt that I will be with you for the landing of Phoenix. I don't want to miss it, even if it will be late
mhovard
Good luck and godspeed, Phoenix. I'll be watching from my patio in Saint Paul, Minnesota...
dvandorn
And I'll be watching just a few miles from you, Mike, from the living room of my house in Minneapolis.
ElkGrovoDan
watching home with Sony big flat screen
Pete B.
I'm watching from Maryland, across the the street from Goddard. Evidently no NASA Channel on the new cable service (Fios) but then neither did Comcast. Maybe Cspan will pick it up?
belleraphon1
Here in Akron, Ohio, will be watching from the internet on NASA TV. At 55, and having been around for the media take on past missions (from Ranger to MRO) do not trust public airwaves.....

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 09:45 PM

HA!!!! Great summary, Climber!

Well, me & Ustrax got a buzz on already; guess that's the NEXT poll....

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 09:49 PM

I think we should thank both Doug and Emily for their excellent work tonight. They've been entertaining, educational and informative in their UStream sessions, and it shows just how far we've come even since the MERs landed. Great job guys!

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 09:49 PM

Arggg too nervous now. Can somebody post again when do we have to "click" to start the EDL similation and be synchronized ?
Thanks

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 09:50 PM

I'd better get me one of these below me...

Posted by: Rakhir May 25 2008, 09:52 PM

Climber,

check http://www.dmuller.com/phoenix/scet.php
Event = "EDL movie - press play now"

BTW, Phoenix passed Deimos orbit 6 minutes ago.

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 09:52 PM

Is that a Wii Wii console ?

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 09:54 PM

Awful, just AWFUL... in a "You're a twisted genius" kind of way...!

Posted by: imipak May 25 2008, 09:54 PM

Emily and Doug would be superb co-presenters for the exciting new one hour per week series covering spaceflight and related topics which the 21st century BBC will never ever commission for the Sunday evening 8pm Attenborough slot



Edit -- Re: the HUD EDL movie - is that that "press play from the start at T-421 seconds" or "press play to start the titles running"?

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 09:56 PM

just trying to release...well... the pressure

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 09:56 PM

Less than two hours to go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R795KiMD4zs

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 10:00 PM

....I'm dyin'!!!!


Gotta second what Stu just said, though. Doug & Emily are doing yeoman work, here!!!

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 10:00 PM

Hmmm... there's no "Media" channel available on the NASA TV page...

Posted by: Bjorn Jonsson May 25 2008, 10:03 PM

Try this

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

where you can choose between three channels including "Media" (or at least I could a few minutes ago).

Posted by: Stu May 25 2008, 10:03 PM

S'okay, it's on now... VERY fancy... more like the Enterprise bridge :-)

Posted by: TheChemist May 25 2008, 10:04 PM

Hi fellow UMSFers and Ultreya believers !
Here is to a successful landing !

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 10:06 PM

Hey...I like that!...
We're on to the pole!!!

Posted by: Alex Chapman May 25 2008, 10:07 PM

Looks like the Non-commentary feed is up and running and I guess the action starts now. Live TV till Phoenix lands. What a ride!!!

Posted by: nprev May 25 2008, 10:09 PM

What's with the blue uniforms? Never saw that before.

EDIT: Current UMSF user total now 142...highest I've personally ever seen.

Posted by: climber May 25 2008, 10:09 PM

I think we can start drinking, I've just spot a Stars & Stripes flag.

Posted by: Alex Chapman May 25 2008, 10:11 PM

But no sign yet of a Stars and Stripes Shirt yet

Posted by: Bjorn Jonsson May 25 2008, 10:11 PM

This is going to be exciting. Far more so than watching a game of football/soccer ;-).

Posted by: Shaka May 25 2008, 10:11 PM

........Peani........Phoenix, We copy you on the ground.......You got a bunch of guys with peanut breath about to turn green....We're chewing again.....

Posted by: ustrax May 25 2008, 10:14 PM

spacEurope's counter broke up when the 1001st visitor (in a single day!!!) checked in...

"WARNING!
On one or more days in the current month you have exceeded the maximum number of allowed page views per day. The exceeding data have not been tracked.
In order to prevent this from happening, it is advisable to use ShinyStat PRO."

Posted by: ElkGroveDan May 25 2008, 10:14 PM

Everyone is now invited over to the http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=5157.
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=5157

Posted by: Nix May 25 2008, 10:15 PM

way more exciting than a socker game

Climber -what are you having?
I'm having a beer.

Nico

Posted by: ElkGroveDan May 25 2008, 10:21 PM

Admins too

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=5157