On October 28, SpaceX released an update on the September 1st anomaly:

Fernando

Here is an interesting article from ESA on a new microprocessor for space applications.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_En...issions_smarter
Interesting to note that the radiation hardening process, despite progresses, still results in larger circuitry (65 nm) and much smaller speeds (250 MHz) as compared to non-space qualified microprocessors (e.g. the z13 at 22nm and 5GHz).
Fernando

Update to sol 1512.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1512_2016NOV08.kmz ( 433.78K ) Number of downloads: 273

Here is a refreshed version of the Schiaparelli KML file for GE. I added several ground overlays with the recently released HiRISE color and black & white images. Do zoom in to see them. All images can individualy be made visible or hidden.

There are many white dots around the crash crater, which are interpreted as pieces that broke off Schiaparelli.
Rapidly toggle on and off the color image of the parachute to see it flip (interpreted as caused by wind, just as MSL's parachute).

The HiRISE b&w image's size is 6.82MB, so the KML directly loads it from the ESA web site (instead of being included in the KMZ). This takes a little time and requires the user to be online.

Fernando
 Schiaparelli.kmz ( 602.11K ) Number of downloads: 375

Update to sol 1507. Includes lots of recent names from Phil's map.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1507_2016NOV01.kmz ( 433.15K ) Number of downloads: 290

Well spotted Paul. Many thanks. I must have seen the names elsewhere, because I do not remember this particular image. Thanks also to Emily for finding out about the name change.

Fernando

Yes, I did get the names from an image similar to the two below But I can't locate it (should have kept a pointer).

http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/images/PIA18392_S...-large-full.jpg

http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=5943

So I believe the name is being reused since the path no longer goes through the old quad, as was planned to in the past.
Fernando

I've been writing code since 1970 (when the world was "young and uncomplicated" ), but I never dealt with real-time, or near-real-time handling code which, I suspect, Schiparelli must use, and imposes a lot of constraints on code, including path-length (the time available for a given algorithm to execute).

I red somewhere that it has been mathematically proved that, except for simple cases, it cannot be demonstrated that a program is 100% correct. So, given one has to live with errors, what can be done to minimize them? Software building, coding methodologies can be used. "Proven" code can be reused - as long as the context of the proof remains valid for the case at hand and people are aware of it. And, of course, testing. A lot of testing. Automated testing can catch some errors, and test cases are specifically created. Can one foresee everything? Every possible combination of inputs? Some errors are caught by sheer luck, others may remain hidden for a long time, until a rare set of conditions manifests itself. Every time an error is caught its correction is included in the next release of the software. It works for the relatively forgiving environments of every day life. Space is much, much more harsh.

I'm just offering my own experience, not excusing anyone or anything. Sometimes, getting the kinks out of a program, feels harder than landing on Mars [pun intended].
Fernando

Provisional update to sol 1499. Less than 11m from quadrant 118 boundary ...
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1499_2016OCT24.kmz ( 431.91K ) Number of downloads: 301

A minuscule tribute to the ExoMars team. I have updated the kml file with the latest CTX images and also reviewed and extended the text of the several item's descriptions. Zoom in to see the "after" image. Enable (check) the "Hardware" to get small icons of Schiaparelli and its parachute.
Fernando
 Schiaparelli.kmz ( 408.86K ) Number of downloads: 442

There were repeated remarks that the landing would be attempted during the dust season, a first. So how much dusty was the atmosphere at the landing area? Is there any data from Opportunity? And how could it have influenced the EDL?
Fernando

ExoMars TGO is now confirmed to be in martian orbit.



Hello Art Martin. I think most of your questions are answered in these ESA pages: About ExoMars
Fernando

ExoMars TGO burning proceding ok, "with slight overperformnace" (Flight Operations Director)

Schiaparelli: at 15:19 UTC it is known it was awake and executing the pre-programmed sequence. Furher information expected within the hour

Fernando

A few ESA links about Schiaparelli's EDL:

Schiaparelli's descent trajectory

Schiaparelli's descento to Mars in real time (the whole 5m 52s of the descent)

ExoMars: From separation to landing

Fernando

Hi ncc1701d!

Here is a link to an interactive demonstration of planetocentric and planetographic coordinates. It is part of the ISIS workshop which contains a wealth of information in a well explained maner.

You may also like this article: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/...oordinates.html

In ISIS I found this bit of code for planetographic to planetocentric convertion: https://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/IsisSupp...hp?topic=1550.0

Fernando

Here is a link to a page where live updates about ExoMars are being posted: http://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Scie...val_and_landing
Excerpt from the page above:
Fernando

Update to sol 1487. Added the 9 mile flag, the position is my best guess.
Curiosity is less than 20m away from the edge of quad 118. Does anyone know its name?
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1487_2016OCT13.kmz ( 430.86K ) Number of downloads: 355

Update to sol 1482.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1482_2016OCT07.kmz ( 430.41K ) Number of downloads: 299

A new notional route for MSL's second mission extention destinations was published on October 3, 2016 (thank you Paul - paulh51 - for pointing it out to me.)
Although the path on the image covers MSL's full traverse, past and future, I only added to the MSL Planned Routes kml document the future part: the stretch from the Murray Buttes area exit (sol 1452) onwards. This is about 7 km long.
The path drawn on the PIA image is very wide, so precision and detail level are very low. The May 17, 2011 path remains the most detailed path on the set.
Fernando
 MSL_Planned_Routes_2016OCT07.kmz ( 178.13K ) Number of downloads: 294

Update to sol 1478. I've changed the "look at" point of view to show the dune field exit point and the latest 2.5 km of the route.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1478_2016OCT04.kmz ( 430.77K ) Number of downloads: 357

Update to sol 1471.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1471_2016SEP27.kmz ( 429.54K ) Number of downloads: 332

I'll be busy for the next days, so here is a provisional update to sol 1455. I Also corrected the path of sols 1446-1452 and moved the 14km mark slightly.
Fernando
 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1455_2016SEP10.kmz ( 387.05K ) Number of downloads: 337

Hello ddeerrff,

Am I correct in thinking that by "two lines" you mean the purple and the red rover paths? If so, the purple path is part of the KMZ file I contribute to this forum. The red path is generated by Google and is loaded whenever one switches to Mars (on Google Earth, of course). The path Google generates is misplaced and incorrect. This matter has been discussed here previously, as well as how to hide that path. Please see posts #676 and #677.

You might also be referring to the fact that I use two types of lines to display the MSL path. The wider line is based on PDS data, from NASA/JPL. The purple line is based on visual interpretation of JPL's "Where is the rover now" maps. Please see posts #494 and #666.

If you meant something else please contact me via personal message, or post here, if you prefer.
Fernando

Provisional update to sol 1452, with the 14Km flag
Fernando

 The_Martian_Way_MSL_Curiosity_Sol_1452_2016SEP07.kmz ( 428.25K ) Number of downloads: 322

Here is the link to the ESA news release announcing Philae's discovery:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Sc...ta/Philae_found

Fernando