In August 2003, as the twin Mars Exploration Rovers were barreling toward Mars in their flying saucers, scientists and engineers sent a radio signal disguised as the rovers' "voice" to the Odyssey orbiter at Mars. The call to Odyssey was what Dr. John Callas, Mars Exploration Rover Science Manager, defines as a "can-you-hear-me-now?" test. Scientists and engineers wanted to ensure the UHF (ultra-high frequency) radio system on Odyssey, a primary communications relay between the rovers and Earth, would work. Odyssey responded with a resounding yes, and something else from Mars responded too . . . .
The last I checked, if we melted all the ice on Mars we'd have an ankle-deep planet-wide ocean. And that's just the ice we know about.
1 comment:
WMB--
No, no, no -- NASA needs to pick someone named "Mac Tonnies."
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