Comments on: TV Alert: Five Years on Mars

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:15:12 +0000

Wish I could watch this show, but it is only on the premium satellite package here. All future landers should be able to move to prolong their lives and increase research areas. Just think of the bonuses Phoenix could have experienced if it could have moved just over the next hill or re-oriented to maximize the solar cells. I know that the next big one is going to be able to move (if it gets there and lands safely and works correctly and nothing political gets in the way).

By: Huygens

Huygens — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:02:39 +0000

NatGeo will have it out on DVD in no time, I am sure.

And YouTube will probably have it before them.

By: Dr One

Dr One — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:52:16 +0000

>Don't miss it!

Great — put it on a channel where we can't see it.

By: Huygens

Huygens — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:03:05 +0000

The ads for the Mars Rover program were trying awfully hard to make Spirit and Opportunity seem like a certain robot from a certain Disney-Pixar film released this past summer.

Especially the wistful image of one rover staring up at a starry night sky on Mars. I was waiting for a more advanced white bullet shaped probe with a female personality to show up. :^)

By: DestroyAllHumans

DestroyAllHumans — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:44:52 +0000

There is a program right after the Mars Rovers one titled Calling All Aliens.

Watch it, or risk being unprepared for the invasion.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:22:28 +0000

The CGI efforts at portraying the adventures of the Pheonix Lander are highly skilled and clever. In fact I would suggest that they are so good and so attractive, that we very rarely see a "real" photo (unaltered or with true natural colour applied). In what way are the CGI images 'tailoring' our interpretation of what the Lander sees and does? The lander is taking thousands of high resolution images, why are none used in the media, or here?
I find this quite annoying, I would much rather see the "real" images.

By: Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:57:57 +0000

Stacy-
Engineers don't expect the Phoenix lander to survive the winter. All the components will freeze solid and carbon dioxide ice will likely encapsulate the lander, probably breaking the solar arrays and possibly other things as well. But there is a "Lazarus" mode on the lander, that if it can, it will call home after the thaw, about a year from now.

But the Mars rovers, (which the above article is about) have survived the Martian winters. They are not at the North pole, and since they have the ability to move, they have spent winters in a sunny spot just basically sitting and staying "alive." Who knows how much longer they'll keep going…
Nancy
Nancy

By: Stacy McGee

Stacy McGee — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:03:24 +0000

Sorry it took me 3 times to figure out to leave a apologizxe for the invoniencence. But does someone have a answer to my quesiton??

By: Stacy McGee

Stacy McGee — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:55:20 +0000

After the martian winter will the phoeniz be able to power up once the sun hits it again?

By: Stacy McGee

Stacy McGee — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:51:58 +0000

When the martian winter ends with the sun be able to power up the lander again to working order again?

By: REllis

REllis — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:50:09 +0000

90 days turned into 5 years? Well if you have to make a huge miscalculation in spacecraft life this is the way I guess.

By: Stacy McGee

Stacy McGee — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:49:51 +0000

When the sun shines again, will it power up for more missions?

By: Johnny White

Johnny White — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:30:41 +0000

Hi, do you know if this documentary will be released as a DVD? Will it be soon?

By: Kevin F.

Kevin F. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:12:44 +0000

They should call it "The Little Rovers That Could".

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:16:13 +0000

Definitely intend to watch this… which is saying something because I detest television.