[X] My Assistant

[Stu]

I wasn't that surprised by the trolls and the attacks, as the internet is no different to real life: there are always going to be pathetic little people with pathetic little lives who are drawn to the brighter, richer lives of people better than themselves, just as moths are drawn to a flame. They can't stand to see people enjoying themselves, so they bang on community hall windows when people are having meetings, uproot flower displays, type abuse and worse in chat rooms, etc. Last night some low life somewhere saw that a group of people had come together to experience something fantastic, something unique, something they had no chance of grasping the significance of, so they decided to spoil it, just because they could. It's sad but it's not rocket science.

But compare that with the goodwill found in the chat rooms, the sheer delight on Emily's face when she was in her element at JPL, and the joy on the Phoenix team's faces during the press briefing and, well, we know who won, don't we?

[Leither]

....but it almost looks to me as if there's a dish-like depression around the pad, and if it didn't so much touchdown as "squishdown". It's almost like a crater rim...

- I agree that's what I see in that anaglyth

Is the ice crust poking up that you refer to the bit just to the right of the triangular hole on the shadow?

I was thinking more the big bit at 10:00ish, but that bit to the right of the shadow looks good as well.

PPPS 0.79 cm is a bit!!

[nprev]

Infestations of trolls, etc, in the chat channel were unfortunate but not too surprising, alas.

It was a terrific afternoon/evening when it's all said and done; best time I've had ever during an EDL!

Would add one note: Some clown asked Emily what I, at least, felt was an intrusive and highly personal question when she was beginning her first 'cast, and I called him on it. He wasn't ejected, and behaved himself from then on. Since Emily has intimated that she'd like to do more live 'casts, I think it is incumbent upon us all to ensure that she is allowed to do so without having to put up with that sort of nonsense, and of course this should be the rule for all people who are kind enough to provide their time and expertise for our collective enlightenment.

[belleraphon1]

Very true... who knows what interesting things are waiting to be seen to Phoenix's sides, or behind it? I wonder if we'll be treated to any new images at the media briefing later today? (7pm British Summer Time)

Fantastic night last night, thanks to everyone who made it so special. Special "Thanks, and well done!"s to Doug and Emily for all their hard work. Very proud of you both. And a huge night for UMSF too. Welcome to all our new members!

Stu... right on!!! I had the same dream and it was a late night for me ..... HAD to stay up for those pics.

Yes, can hardly wait for the full panorama.....

And I would also like to comment on what a fantastic community we have here with UMSF.... what a joy it is to know that
out there are all you wonderful folks who love space exploration as deeply as I do. What an added joy it gave last night as the Phoneix team made history.

Doug and Emily continue to do an awesome job.... as do so many of you poets and image mages!!!!

Now a mission op questions.... since we really do not KNOW how deep the ice is, are they going to dig a rehersal trench just to give them that benchmark and then dig an adjacent sampling trench? They only have so many chambers to use for soil/ice analysis. Any one know the answer... or is this a stupid question? Still a bit whumped from last night's late night excitement.

Craig

[Steve G]

I'm surprised by the amount of material inside the landing pad. A lot more than the Vikings and with the ground "frozen solid" as we expected tells me the top layer is quite loose and dry. I could be dead wrong, of course, but that's my impression. As for my earlier comment about wanting to land close to the parachute, it would be interesting to see a human made object interacting theith the martian environment over the lifetime of the lander. Will it ever flutter in the breeze, moved to a different direction? It would be a usefull passive experiment. I was dissapointed when Oppy didn't travers over to its chute which wasn't that far away.

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

I was dissapointed when Oppy didn't travers over to its chute which wasn't that far away.

I think I remember someone asking about that shortly after Oppy landed.... and I think that they were concerned about the rover becoming tangled in the tethers attaching the parachute to the backshell should it move in the wind for instance.

[Steve G]

But compare that with the goodwill found in the chat rooms, the sheer delight on Emily's face when she was in her element at JPL, and the joy on the Phoenix team's faces during the press briefing and, well, we know who won, don't we?

I was amzed at Emily's knowledge. She always had an immediate answer to every question!

[Deimos]

I noticed that as well - I also get 1.5 degrees. Could it be the SSI mast is tilted a degree or so from vertical?

The images were taken to the NNW. Landing position shows Heimdall to NE. The sol 2 part of the initial low-resolution site pan could show something on the horizon.

Mark

[Deimos]

Very true... who knows what interesting things are waiting to be seen to Phoenix's sides, or behind it? I wonder if we'll be treated to any new images at the media briefing later today? (7pm British Summer Time)

I think you'll be very sorry if you miss the briefing. Should be a fantastic new goody.

[fredk]

Interesting thought, Deimos.

Does anyone know why they wanted to land with the solar arrays aligned E-W? If they are horizontal, their azimuth shouldn't make any difference to power levels. Perhaps they were thinking about shadowing of the masts onto the arrays?

[ugordan]

Via Twitter: a wonderful new picture to be unveiled at the press briefing

HiRISE?

[Norm Hartnett]

I think you'll be very sorry if you miss the briefing. Should be a fantastic new goody.

Oh sure, with a half hour to wait you tease us. Could it have something to do with the increasing number of panoramic pieces showing up in the galleries? Or is it really a polar bear?

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[ElkGroveDan]

I'm going to guess HIRISE too - maybe the descent image from yesterday that they were going to try for.

[um3k]

For those interested, here's a high bitrate (1200 kbps) version of NASA TV: http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368163

Only for fast connections, of course.

[ugordan]

maybe the descent image from yesterday that they were going to try for.

That would be about the only image cooler than seeing a lander footpad pressing into alien soil. There's just something about footpads. Airbags just don't come near in coolness factor.