Curiosity

[Troll]

Hmmm new Sky crane landing system looks a bit iffy

At over a ton heavier than the previous rovers they couldn't use the proven cushioned landing method

got a bad feeling about this....it's all going to end in tears

[TimberWolf]

Hmmm new Sky crane landing system looks a bit iffy

At over a ton heavier than the previous rovers they couldn't use the proven cushioned landing method

got a bad feeling about this....it's all going to end in tears

That's why the engineers are going to be holding their breaths during the 'six minutes of terror'.

[centurian]

One has to dispose of nuclear waste somehow.

Hope the Martians don't send it back shaped like a warhead.

Also Pu-238 has a short half life - at least when compared to other Pu isotopes

[TimberWolf]

BBC2 part 2 of 6, currently showing. I missed part 1.

Counting down the days to Mars' latest and badest nuclear powered explorer.

[kingcook]

Geek pr0n:

NASA's Next Mars Rover Lands on Xbox Kinect | GeekDad | Wired.com

[TimberWolf]

"Mars is hard," said Nye, pointing out that Russia, despite all its firsts in the realm of space exploration, is "0 for 21 on Mars. Europe is 0 for 1. NASA is a little over 50 percent."
NASA braces for 'terror' in Mars landing | NDTV.com

And here is a list of Russian attempts with associated outcomes: Russia's unmanned missions to Mars. Though some of those looks like successes, even when they didn't communicate.

No one does space like the Yanks.

[gingerjedi]

They did it!

Another frontier of human exploration has begun, I wonder how long before a wheel gets stuck?

[sbakoola]

The landing reminded me of the marines drop ship in movie Aliens. does this mean we are secretly creating a space military ?

[Gentile]

I must say, I'm surprised. I didn't think they had a hope in hell. So, well done NASA.

[BolshieBastard]

They did it!

Another frontier of human exploration has begun, I wonder how long before a wheel gets stuck?

Unlike the other rovers, Curio's primary mission is slated for a minimum 2 years while its plutonium power source should be able to keep its experiments going for upto 10 years.

Spirit & Opportunity's primary mission was only for 90 days in comparison and bother wildly exceeded expectations. One would pressume they learnt something from how quickly the wheels and motors lasted in those two and, incorporated some improvements for Curiosity.

I think one such thing is bigger wheels and better encasement of bearings.