PJM: She’s called “Perseverance” and after a 140 million mile journey, will land on the planet Mars on Thursday, February 18.
That is, if all goes well.
In truth, even getting to Mars has proven to be a fraught enterprise. Roughly half of the 49 missions sent to Mars by all nations have failed. The U.S. has a pretty good record of successes, but the failures have been notable. The Mars Climate Orbiter was supposed to reach Mars in 1999, but burned up in the atmosphere of the red planet when software instructions to the engines were discovered to have been written using two different means of measurement.
Most of the failures belong to the old Soviet Union. They failed so many times that they haven’t even tried going to Mars since 1996. Suffice it to say, Mars missions to date have been hit or miss propositions.
The mission is costing taxpayers $2.7 billion, which is about average for interplanetary probes. But if Perseverance manages to land successfully, space buffs are in for a real treat. more
Just think how monumental this is. When she was launched we still lived in a free country…but that was way back in July 2020!
Yes, it’s like a creepy time machine. Dont be surprised if biden orders it abandoned – or renamed after his idiot wife (Dr. Pepper) or junkie son.
“She’s called “Perseverance” …. ”
But what’s its biological gender?
Mars has no diversity, just robot privilege.
Should have sent Pelosi in a Prius.
Another government boondoggle.
How is that Muslim designed rover they’ve been working on for 2000 years… I think it’s called a Wheelbarrow.
Did Dominion write the software for the Mars Climate Orbiter?
Takata airbags?
I bet it loses at least one hub cap on entry.
…some Congressional Democrat tells them to send it over to remove the rayciss American flag that Lance Armstrong put there in 1992 in 3…2…1…
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/mooned/
Huron
FEBRUARY 15, 2021 AT 7:20 PM
“I bet it loses at least one hub cap on entry.”
https://youtu.be/WEO3VlgifhE
“My hooptie rollin’, tailpipe draggin’
Heat don’t work an’ my girl keeps naggin’
Six-nine Buick, deuce keeps rollin’
One hubcap ’cause three got stolen
Bumper shook loose, chrome keeps scrapin’
Mis-matched tires, and my white walls flakin’
Hit mickey-d’s, Maharaji starts to bug
He ate a quarter-pounder, threw the pickles on my rug”
“Sir Mix-A-Lot, “My Hooptie”
ǝpɐɥsʇɥɓᴉuɹǝdnS Good one. I also like public enemy’s You’re gonna get yours olds 98.
“…for future human life support on Mars…”
Antarctica’s weather is much balmier than that of Mars. Until I see condos going up on Antarctic shores, we ain’t living on Mars.
The space nerds will be keeping tabs daily, hoping the rover will find evidence of life. Anything, even a dead amoeba, would get them so excited they wouldn’t come out of the bathroom for a week.
Actually, we’re all geeking out over the helicopter.
HELICOPTERS ON MARS!!!!! Sounds like a dope album name.
Suck on that, H.G. Wells.
Hard-core Sci-Fi fans will be wondering: Will they find any Zombies on Mars? Imperial Troopers? Luke Skywalker’s skeleton?