ZigZagMarquis 8 #1 November 25, 2012 http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/11/21/mars-mystery-curiosity-rover-big-discovery/?intcmp=obnetwork Mars mystery: has Curiosity rover made big discovery? Published November 21, 2012 NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has apparently made a discovery "for the history books," but we'll have to wait a few weeks to find out what the new Red Planet find may be, media reports suggest. The discovery was made by Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars instrument, NPR reported Tuesday, Nov. 20. SAM is the rover's onboard chemistry lab, and it's capable of identifying organic compounds — the carbon-containing building blocks of life as we know it. SAM apparently spotted something interesting in a soil sample Curiosity's huge robotic arm delivered to the instrument recently. "This data is gonna be one for the history books," Curiosity chief scientist John Grotzinger, of Caltech in Pasadena, told NPR. "It's looking really good." Grotzinger said the rover team won't be ready to announce just what SAM found for several weeks yet, NPR reported. The scientists want to check and double-check the results, to make sure they're for real. The $2.5 billion Curiosity rover landed inside Mars' huge Gale Crater on Aug. 5, kicking off a two-year mission to determine if Mars has ever been capable of supporting microbial life. The car-size robot carries 10 different instruments to aid in its quest, but SAM is the rover's heart, taking up more than half of its science payload by weight. In addition to analyzing soil samples, SAM also takes the measure of Red Planet air. Many scientists are keen to see if Curiosity detects any methane, which is produced by many lifeforms here on Earth. A SAM analysis of Curiosity's first few sniffs found no definitive trace of the gas in the Martian atmosphere, but the rover will keep looking. Curiosity began driving again Friday (Nov. 16) after spending six weeks testing its soil-scooping gear at a site called "Rocknest." The rover will soon try out its rock-boring drill for the first time on the Red Planet, scientists have said. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 232 #2 November 25, 2012 Hopefully it's not more of this "How the universe was formed" bullshit. If it's not plutonium then to hell with it."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,353 #3 November 25, 2012 It's all fascinating science. But every time I hear about the rovers finding something on Mars, I remember Gilligan's Island. http://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/gilligans-island-season-2-episode-4-smile-youre-on-mars-camera-238288"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #4 November 25, 2012 DB Cooper."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingRhenquest 1 #5 November 25, 2012 Maybe they found the funk. Strangely appropriate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vziriyVgk24I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,651 #6 November 25, 2012 Amelia Earhart... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #7 November 25, 2012 11 billion mis-matched socks. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
david3 0 #8 November 25, 2012 If it's boobies, can you imagine what that would do for space exploration? Talk about a shot in the arm. The space race would be on, money would begin to flow and little boys would all study real hard to become an astronaut. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 8 #9 November 25, 2012 It could happen! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,400 #10 November 25, 2012 Al Capone's Vault"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #11 November 25, 2012 Actually it was Elvis sitting atop a double Decker bus chatting to Dr Who. Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #12 November 25, 2012 Quote11 billion mis-matched socks. Billions and Billions Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #13 November 25, 2012 My freebag!?...or this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #14 November 26, 2012 the g-spot.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,400 #15 November 26, 2012 "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything""There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #16 November 26, 2012 My car keys. lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 8 #17 November 26, 2012 Quote My car keys. At least it wasn't your diaphram! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,400 #18 November 26, 2012 The real killer of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #19 November 26, 2012 The cat?I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #20 November 26, 2012 Quote The cat? That would be bad news for the cat. And now I'm picturing Curiosity roving around Mars, killing kittens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #21 November 26, 2012 "I has found the enemy and he is us."My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #22 November 26, 2012 Wrong-Way Corrigan ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,400 #23 November 26, 2012 The Zodiac Killer"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #24 November 26, 2012 The one-armed man. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,400 #25 November 26, 2012 The Lost Colony of Roanoke"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites