Curiosity Rover and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) that it transports have begun a new phase of the mission. The actual exploration and scientific investigation began today. Up until now it has all been one system test after another. Here is how Stuart Clarke put it in the Guardian today:
After five and a half weeks of instrument checks, software updates and test drives, today the scientists take over from the engineers.
Searching for the right rock could take days or weeks depending upon what the rover happens to pass. Curiosity will make slow but steady progress, driving at no more than 40 metres per Martian day, or sol as the scientists call them, before radioing its progress back to Earth.
From now on, the science team will meet as soon as the data is received to determine what has been achieved and what they would like to do next. This could be driving to a new location, analyzing a rock or soil sample, or taking images.
If the potential of this mission inspires you like it does me, let's go out into the tall grass and talk about it.
I've been arguing for some time in my Mars diaries that spectacular scientific results from the mission could come in the heat of the election in October. Such news could put NASA into a positive light and capture the attention the the public mind for a few news cycles. There are two sides in this election: Government can sometimes help vs. Government is trying to hurt you. All success by federal agencies inures to the benefit of Democrats in such a message frame. Science denouncing Republicans lose appeal.
Many here have said that facts have a liberal bias. They do. It follows that science, which is humanity's proven tool for deducing and verifying facts, has a similar bias. We sent this robot to Mars and have verified that it all works. NASA is now setting off with an extraordinary suite of instruments to do some planetary science.
That is cool and America knows it.
Here are my previous diaries in this series inspired by NASA's new roving science lab on Mars, listed in the order I have posted them.
Mars Curiosity Rover -- Meet the ChemCam
Ray Bradbury is Honored Today on Mars
What Curiosity Can Do, Part 2.
What Curiosity Can Do on Mars and in this Election
Will Curiosity Mission Finally Vindicate the Life Science Results from the 1976 Viking Lander?
From Mars: SAM Takes a Deep Breath and Flexes his Arm
From Mars: Here's Looking At You, Kid.
On Mars: Super Rover has X-ray Vision
Also, h/t to Troubadour for the excellent photo diary from the mission.
