Mars Goes Social Leading Up To Rover Landing Dan Koelsch, August 4, 2012August 4, 2012 NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission will hit a key moment tomorrow night at 10:30 PM PDT, when the Curiosity rover (which is the size of a MINI Cooper) lands on the planet’s surface. The last two rovers to hit Mars, in 2004, got national attention when they lasted way past their life expectancy (in fact, one is still functional). NASA is looking to build on that popularity by making Curiosity go social, including talking to popular astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson this afternoon. Details after the break. You might be surprised to learn that NASA’s annual budget of almost $18 billion is less than half of a percent (.48%) of the total Federal budget. With plenty of people shouting for NASA to close its doors in this tough economy, the space program has been trying to gain favor over the years by appealing to the masses. Since Mars is a popular subject, Curiosity seems to be the perfect name for the newest rover. NASA has provided the mission and rover with a Twitter and Facebook, where it speaks in the first person. There’s even a free Xbox Kinect game where you can try your hand at the rover’s complicated landing procedure.Dr. Tyson, who has gained much of his popularity on the Internet through viral videos and memes, has gotten in on the action as well. Not only did he recently tweet about what the Olympics would be like on Mars, he even talked to Curiosity directly this afternoon in a pretty funny and informative exchange.<wormhole actived!> Dear @neiltyson I read you loud and clear. 5×5— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, I'm snug as a bug in a backshell. My MMRTG gives power & heat. So much so, I use radiators to keep temps just right— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, MMRTG is powered by plutonium-238. I use thermocouples to convert heat from its natural decay to electric current— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, for being millions of miles away it's faster than say… some TV broadcasts from London to Los Angeles 😉— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, target area is 12 miles x 4 miles, right next door to some of Mars' most intriguing rocks & soil— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, all that's been checked out, checks out. Got a lot of calibrations & checkouts to do once I'm on the surface— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, epic game of "I Spy," lots of Bowie. Well, that and science. I took radiation readings with my RAD instrument— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, They respected my space (ha ha). I love hearing from the Deep Space Network, tho. It keeps me grounded— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, while I can do short autonomous drives, longer sequences are sent by the team. Wonder if they'll let me do donuts?— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, Pick between sniffing Mars with SAM, digesting soil with Chemin or zapping rocks with ChemCam?? #TooMuchAwesome— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, Scientists v Engineers? I'm staying out of that one. We've all gotta work together for a lonnnng time— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, My warranty is 1 Martian year (23 Earth months). @MarsRovers were designed for 90-day missions… #8yearslater— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, Top speed = 1.5 inches/sec on flat, hard ground. I'm not out to set Mars land speed records. I brake for science— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, Martians? RODEO BULL? That wasn't in the briefing. But you never know what you'll find on a mission of discovery— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, like #Olympic athletes, I have a great team behind me. Time to stick the landing— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012Dear @neiltyson, I've got @NASAJPL on the other line. Back to work indeed. This was fun 😀 <wormhole deactivated>— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 4, 2012 Check out NASA TV to learn more about Curiosity and watch the landing live. Social Networks Viral Marketing CuriosityFacebookMarsTwitter
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