IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

5 Pages V  « < 3 4 5  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
Spirit: End of Mission
briv1016
post Jun 11 2011, 08:24 AM
Post #61


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 239
Joined: 18-December 07
From: New York
Member No.: 3982



It appears they have [finally] fixed the clock on the MER page and removed the "Sols past "warranty"" line for Spirit.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nix
post Jun 15 2011, 01:57 PM
Post #62


Chief Assistant
****

Group: Admin
Posts: 1409
Joined: 5-January 05
From: Ierapetra, Greece
Member No.: 136



There was a time when I used to sit down at the computer every single day,
waiting for new images to come down from Spirit and Opportunity.
Like so many others here I stood amazed..
It touched my heart to see the scientists behind the mission fall into tears,
when those first images came down onto that big screen at JPL..
I enjoyed playing around with those images, sharing that joy with a bunch
of people here doing exactly the same.
I enjoyed learning from the mission, learning about cameras, geology,
image processing techniques and so forth...
I enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm with my wife, as she sat in the couch
watching tv on her own.. as I was way to hung up looking at alien desert rocks.

There was a time when I would have said that Spirit is dead.
But Spirit is still there -it's a robot after all.. it's parts will deteriorate in
the Martian winds but it could be preserved as we all know.
We all know to well that what really makes us living organisms; our personality,
and everything what makes us who we are, cannot be preserved. We die.
We leave a lifetime of memories, depending on the duration of our staying
here on Earth...

There was a time when I would have been sad for the so-called death of Spirit,
but I'm more than satisfied. I'm more than gratefull for what really made Spirit
something more than just a robot; the real people behind the commands that she
was given in order to function.. the people who sacrificed a lot of time of their lives
to make Spirit do what she did. The people who decided that this wealth of imagery
and other data should be shared with the average man, the amateur astronomer
and others that gather in places like UMSF founded by Doug.

There was a time that all of the people who's names are on the dvd's carried by
Spirit and Opportunity were alive. Undoubtebly a number of those people have died
since the Mars Exploration Mission carried on their names to Mars.
My wife was one of them.
She left on sol 2269 for Spirit, the same number in days from
Spirit's landing to the last Pancam images, or 2208 sols.
I remember thinking 'you are both dying now...'
In memory I like to think of her now as the ancient Greek did,
wandering the plains of Elysium, a province on Mars and the imaginary place in Greek
mythology where the entrance was gained by a righteous life, the island of the blessed,
those who received immortality.

Spirit is what we call dead, but she is still there, just as anything and everyone that
ever left a memory once upon a time. And to quote Einstein; time is an illusion...

So, thank you Spirit, a big thank you to every soul involved in the mission, and another
big thank you for the dvd on board, for taking us to Mars, for eternity !


--------------------
photographer, space imagery enthusiast, proud father and partner, and geek.


http://500px.com/sacred-photons &
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ilbasso
post Jun 15 2011, 03:59 PM
Post #63


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 753
Joined: 23-October 04
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Member No.: 103



I'm moved beyond words. Thanks for this.


--------------------
Jonathan Ward
Manning the LCC at http://www.apollolaunchcontrol.com
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MoreInput
post Jun 15 2011, 08:04 PM
Post #64


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 194
Joined: 3-January 10
Member No.: 5156



My thoughts are with you, Nix!


--------------------
Need more input ...
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
climber
post Jul 24 2011, 01:41 PM
Post #65


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2917
Joined: 14-February 06
From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France)
Member No.: 682



There's a link: http://www.spaceflightnow.com where "Mission officials and scientists pay tribute to the Spirit rover that explored Mars for six years before succumbing to the harsh Martian winter in 2010". It last 1h14mn50s and it's worth to have a look at. You'll see Steve and much more people talking about Spirit legacy as well as a lot of little stories we all enjoy here.
Since the link point to "home page" of spaceflightnow.com, it'll probably not last long but I didn't find a better one.


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ElkGroveDan
post Jul 24 2011, 03:56 PM
Post #66


Senior Member
****

Group: Admin
Posts: 4763
Joined: 15-March 05
From: Glendale, AZ
Member No.: 197



Here's the direct YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHyBzOjvjg...player_embedded


--------------------
If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
brellis
post Jul 24 2011, 05:34 PM
Post #67


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 754
Joined: 9-February 07
Member No.: 1700



Some top scientists and engineers are also able to form a compelling narrative to outline their aspirations and accomplishments. This is a wonderful example! Thanks for sharing.

It's interesting to hear SS speak before Spirit had landed on Mars: Planetary Radio December 2003

SS making sure his team got flu shots: "This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. It'll last for months!" smile.gif
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

5 Pages V  « < 3 4 5
Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th March 2024 - 09:31 AM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.