Spirit - Sol2000, Congratulations to the MER Teams |
Spirit - Sol2000, Congratulations to the MER Teams |
Aug 18 2009, 01:01 PM
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
As we have become accustomed to here on UMSF, the Rovers have reached another incredible milestone.
Today (tosol), the Mars Exploration Rover 'Spirit' has been operating on the red planet for 2000 Sols. To celebrate, here are a few logos, desktops and a poster for you to download and enjoy. The poster features another brilliant work of prose from our UMSF 'Poet Dude' Stuart Atkinson and a big credit to James Canvin for the Calypso Pan (with some Astro0 enhancements ). You guys rock! Poster: There's also a full-size 4.5mb version of the poster over at my blog. Plus a 16.2mb version to download for the brave. Desktops: Logos: |
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Aug 18 2009, 01:43 PM
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
I know that he would do it eventually, but I thought it worth posting Stu's poem which features on the poster. Enjoy
2K This morning, yawning as I woke From another Troy-trapped night I watched Sol rise for the 2000th time And wondered: “Was it all a dream?” Did I really climb the scree-streaked Side of Husband Hill? Did one night I thrill To the sight of shooting stars and two Silvery moons fleeing across the sky? Did I Drag my ruined wheel for mile after endless mile, Ploughing a ragged furrow through Barsoom’s Cinnamon-dusted crust before Doom Caught up with me and left me stranded Here, impatient in this pit of ancient sand? When I arrived, falling out of the salmon- Hued sky, trailing a flapping banner of flame And fury, a backshelled-Beowulf, none on Earth Thought I Would survive even a hundred nights - Yet, here I am, alive, after two thousand! True, I cannot move, and my horizon has Not changed for what seems like an eternity But I can still see, and there is beauty in every Rock, and stone, sliver, slice and shelf of shale Around me. And if I am fated to stand At this wind-whipped, stony place, statue- Still, until only ghostly traces of my graceless Lines remain then so be it; I will not rage Against the end of my days, I have seen More wonders than I dared dream I would, And I have always known that every turn Of my wheels was carrying me closer to The End. They will send others after me – Bigger, bolder, more capable machines – But I will always be The First, The one that faced and overcame the worst That Mars could do and made the old World New again for millions watching Back on Earth. That was my worth – the rebirth Of the Red Planet in the minds of restless men. I’ll be forgotten, that is the way of things, but when, One day, I’m found, and the so-long silent hills Of Gusev ring to the sound of celebratory “She’s here!” Cheers, they’ll speak my name again..! © Stuart Atkinson 2009 |
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Aug 18 2009, 05:53 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 530 Joined: 21-March 06 From: Canada Member No.: 721 |
This morning, yawning as I woke From another Troy-trapped night I watched Sol rise for the 2000th time Well, technically, wouldn't it be for the 1999th time? I mean, if Sol 1 is landing day and the sun is already up, she wouldn't watch her first sunrise until Sol 2, right? |
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Aug 18 2009, 07:35 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
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Aug 18 2009, 09:06 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1452 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
TECHNICALLY the coast phase of the launch resulted in one sunrise - making 2000. Ah but did the rover actually see it? All locked up within its aeroshell? Sorry. -------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Aug 18 2009, 10:09 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Ah but did the rover actually see it? All locked up within its aeroshell? Voltages on a solar array - just as she 'sees' them now. Back then a cruise stage solar array, now a rover solar array - but it would have been 'sensed' just the same. I was simply making a point - if Brian wants to play the pedantic party pooper - then there will ALWAYS be someone to take it one step further, so it's best not to start playing that game. |
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