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Just a reminder to tell people that NASA TV (finally) shows something to celebrate 2 years on Mars

Eastern U.S. time.
January 24, Tuesday
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Mars Rover Anniversary Program - JPL (Special Program)

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

[MizarKey]

Dang, I was working and didn't get to this in time...was there anything exciting and new announced? Anything about Victoria?

Big time D'OH!

[Guest_paulanderson_*]

Dang, I was working and didn't get to this in time...was there anything exciting and new announced?  Anything about Victoria?

Not in the program, but I did see this today:

Exciting new findings in offing in NASA's Mars Mission

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/485200601241614.htm

"Kolkata, Jan. 24 (PTI): Scientists on NASA's Mars Mission are hopeful of 'exciting new findings' in the next two months when its latest rover Opportunity on the red planet hits a crucial stop -- the Victoria Crater.

"We have not yet found the life that we are looking for in Mars. But maybe in two months from now, you might hear something really nice. So stay tuned in," said Steven Ruff, head of a NASA team from the Mars Exploration Rover Mission currently touring India.

Delivering a lecture on the two years of NASA's rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars for thousands of school children here, Ruff said after unearthing some very interesting data in craters called Gusev, Bonneville, Eagle and Endurance as well as higher altitudes like Columbia Hills and Husband Hill summit, the rover was now inching its way to Victoria Crater.

"This is by far the biggest crater located on the Mars surface and it is expected to provide vital clues to our search for life on the planet," Ruff said."

Keep in mind this is an English translation, but the MER team seems optimistic about reaching Victoria and what interesting things might be found there.

[dilo]

Not in the program, but I did see this today:

Exciting new findings in offing in NASA's Mars Mission

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/485200601241614.htm

[i]"Kolkata, Jan. 24 (PTI): Scientists on NASA's Mars Mission are hopeful of 'exciting new findings' in the next two months when its latest rover Opportunity on the red planet hits a crucial stop -- the Victoria Crater.

"We have not yet found the life that we are looking for in Mars. But maybe in two months from now, you might hear something really nice. So stay tuned in," said Steven Ruff, head of a NASA team from the Mars Exploration Rover Mission currently touring India.
...
Keep in mind this is an English translation, but the MER team seems optimistic about reaching Victoria and what interesting things might be found there.

I think to months to Victoria is too optimistic (but would be nice!)... and also expectations about new findings there appear a little bit excessive!

[Guest_paulanderson_*]

I think to months to Victoria is too optimistic (but would be nice!)... and also expectations about new findings there appear a little bit excessive!

That may largely just be the translation, I don't know. But, being able to see deeper strata is of course the point of getting to Victoria, which should be much better than even Endurance, depending on what was actually found. Bigger pieces of the puzzle!

[brianc]

Hi Rob

Welcome to the forum, great to hear from one of the team - keep giving us a bit of insite every now and again.

Congratulations to all of you for an utterly brilliant job done and for sharing so generously with your mars followers

Kind regards


Brianc

[Guest_Oersted_*]

Hi Rob and thanks for your posting!

Why don't you guys just make ten or twenty rovers exactly like the ones up there now, and start some serious Mars exploration? - Oh yeah: ..funding... ;-)

But seriously, if the manned space program can practically resuscitate Apollo, I think JPL should find a small (ok, big) hole in the budget and give us more MER goodness! We love those over-engineered fella's!

Greetings from a Dane,