What sets Curiosity apart from other Mars Rovers?

The Mars Science Lab was launched November 26, 2011, and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. The rover Curiosity, after completing a more precise landing than ever attempted previously, is intended to help assess Mars' habitability for future human missions. Its primary mission objective is to determine whether Mars is or has ever been an environment able to support life.
Curiosity is five times as large as either of the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit or Opportunity and carries more than ten times the mass of scientific instruments present on the older vehicles. The rover is expected to operate for at least 686 days as it explores with greater range than any previous Mars rover. Here are some of the specs that help set Curiosity apart from the other rovers:
The rover Curiosity is 3 meters in length, and weighs 900 kg, including 80 kg worth of scientific instruments. It is approximately the size of a Mini Cooper automobile.
Once on the surface, Curiosity will be able to roll over obstacles approaching 75 cm high. Maximum terrain-traverse speed is estimated to be 90 meters per hour by automatic navigation, however, with average speeds likely to be about 30 meter per hour depending on power levels, difficulty of the terrain, slippage, and visibility. It is expected to traverse a minimum of 12 miles in its two-year mission.
Curiosity is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, as used by the successful Mars landers Viking 1 and Viking 2 in 1976. Radioisotope power systems are generators that produce electricity from the natural decay of plutonium-238, which is a non-fissile isotope of plutonium. Heat given off by the natural decay of this isotope is converted into electricity, providing constant power during all seasons and through the day and night, and waste heat can be used via pipes to warm systems, freeing electrical power for the operation of the vehicle and instruments.
The temperatures that Curiosity can encounter vary from +30 to −127 °C. Therefore, the Heat rejection system uses fluid pumped through 60 meters of tubing in the MSL body so that sensitive components are kept at optimal temperatures.
The two identical on-board computers contain radiation-hardened memory to tolerate the extreme radiation environment from space and to safeguard against power-off cycles. Curiosity has two means of communication -- an X-band transmitter and receiver that can communicate directly with Earth, and a UHF software-defined radio for communicating with Mars orbiters. Communication with orbiters is expected to be the main method for returning data to Earth, since the orbiters have both more power and larger antennas than the lander. At landing time, 13 minutes, 46 seconds will be required for signals to travel between Earth and Mars.
Like previous rovers Mars Exploration Rovers and Mars Pathfinder, Curiosity is equipped with 6 wheels in a rocker-bogie suspension. The suspension system will also serve as landing gear for the vehicle. Its smaller predecessors used airbag-like systems. Curiosity's wheels are significantly larger than those used on the previous rovers. Each wheel has a pattern of grooves that help it maintain traction, while leaving a distinctive track in Martian soil. That pattern, to be photographed by on-board cameras, will be used to judge the distance travelled.

[@bobanderson2895]

Really wanted to watch the video but couldn't because of the loud thumping back round music and weird sound effects. I would prefer watching all of these videos without music or sound effects it would be a lot more enjoyable. (Well here it is 4 years later and I see you haven't done a thing about the crappy music or sound effects.)

[@GRZNGT]

Pixar should make a cartoon about those rovers. For some reason i think they have souls.

[@goldenretriever6440]

GRZ NGT They did it’s called Wall E

[@MaheshPatel-jc6yb]

GRZ NGT I

[@PAULLONDEN]

*GRZ NGT* __ They did..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIu8n3ypgbOtacU

[@ThomasFarquhar2]

They do. Opportunity died and its last message made it seem human somehow.

[@pratikmohite6202]

@@goldenretriever6440 wall-e is a different kinda rover or maybe i would say robot //

[@patstaysuckafreeboss8006]

Probably the most advanced thing ever built. Truly fascinating.

[@PXssss]

I never knew something like this could be so emotional.

[@BradGatton]

1:25 Makes it sound like a Badass Rebel. Primary Objective: 12 rounds with any Alien life forms.

[@Mogy336]

Amazing video thanks for sharing

[@NobleButts]

It is total bull

[@yuyukosfaithfulservant]

sharing*

[@yuyukosfaithfulservant]

@@NobleButts explain

[@NLTimmy]

I like the detail at 9:12, when the cap of the shipping container gets attached. It says: 'Reusable container, Do not destroy'

[@gelinrefira]

My heart flutters and I tremble every time I see a rocket launch to put scientific satellites into space, knowing that we, the human race is engaging in the most noble and adventurous endeavor, exploration of the unknown. Our base instincts; greed, fear, superstition, hatred, cruelty and ignorance melted away by curiosity, courage, spirit, and selfless pursuit of something larger than each of us, knowledge. Knowledge for enlightenment, posterity and progress. My faith is restored

[@cosmonaves]

Respect and admire the work of this incredible team of geniuses and engineers, but I think these very complex robots that NASA sent to Mars. I believe could be simpler, more economical and aficiente on Mars. It's just my opinion before large studies and tests, worthy of all respect.

[@79Sarwar]

+cosmonaves - What are these rockets made out of? Like which metals?

[@SueDunMc-]

Yep, all the billions of dollars could be better spent on our own planetary problems. Is this what our tax dollars are being used for?

[@SuperZarrabal]

And they say Curiosity is somewhere in Canada... pff...

[@FutureAIDev2015]

I think the saying is that Mount Sharp is sometimes slightly warmer than Canada.

[@savlife222]

INSANE how accurate they were with the prediction of landing date

[@Kyzoki]

Which still charges batteries, which still have operational life time. The rover charges up overnight, and roams during the day. Mission time is 23 months(to completion), although the batteries will last several years. So it'll still transmit info past it's original mission time,(like Opportunity and Spirit).

[@woodskier]

is the world flat at mars too ?

[@NobleButts]

Idiot

[@TPVPRO]

This is the good side of nuclear power reliable electricity on extreme climates.

[@leerman22]

It's not a reactor though, Pu238 isn't fissile, just gets hot as it decays. Good news is the colder the outside of an RTG is the more power it can make.

[@number1RabidPlatypus]

There isn't really a bad side to nuclear power other than humans being stupid and causing a meltdown.

[@dharkbizkit]

Xavier Valdez well. id say the waste is a bad side.

[@number1RabidPlatypus]

Its safer and better than most other energy waists like fossil fuels

[@leerman22]

Xavier Valdez Coal ash is less radioactive than nuclear waste, but there is a much much larger volume of it than nuclear. I'd have no problem burying my lifetime of uranium (or better yet thorium) under my yard, but I would never have the space for the equivalent in coal ash.

[@JMaSsA11]

the precision with the date of landing is incredible! Just one day off.

[@MrBobcat975]

They monitored and reported on the radio transmissions as they received them on earth. Since it takes 14 minutes for radio waves to reach Earth from Mars, Curiosity had already landed or crashed before the people on Earth even received the first signals from the beginning of the landing procedure. All landing was automated and quite the engineering feat. Cool stuff.

[@MoveAlongThere]

500 years of study and effort put to the dumbest, empty music ever made.

[@jayyoutube8790]

The technology involved in these programs are simply amazing. Exciting time to be alive

[@NobleButts]

It is a hoax, dummy

[@operatorjewski9450]

@@NobleButts your a hoax to humanity.

[@operatorjewski9450]

How can it be fake when i watched it launch irl lmao hahahaha

[@Dylan_Thomas1]

Someone needs to make a film about humans finally colonizing Mars. In that film we'd see man take his first steps onto the surface and, after many many years of solitude, the curiosity rover reuniting with it's creators.

[@Gigagamer74]

It is not about assembly. It is about 1) delivery (a lot of fuel) 2) guaranteed performance (you have no garaty new one will work as wall as old one) 3) cost of every device mounted on board (spectroscope and so on). Assembly is not so dear. Creat second one without errors and successful delivery is a point. Energy is a limiting factor.

[@MrBobcat975]

When we were watching the NASA folks describing what was happening they were doing that in real time(live). When they said "We have chute deployment" at 12:44am the signal that Curiosity sent saying "My chute has been deployed" was sent 14 minutes prior to the folks at JPL receiving it so it would been sent at 12:30am. When they said "we lost the signal" at 12:14am then Curiosity's signal was actually interrupted at 12:00 am . The times I used were just for examples.

[@momatotsosrorudodi]

Science is NEVER a waste of resources.

[@Stanislav2588]

amazing what the geniuses at NASA can do these days! Keep up the good work guys!

[@duanewilliams7353]

It's too bad NASA cant let people know that so far Every Planet,Asteroid, and Meteor that we could see the ground on was Inhabited!!!! Not even One was uninhabited!!!! Yet NASA pretends not to know, If I can see them they can see them better!!!

[@yuyukosfaithfulservant]

@@duanewilliams7353 please be joking please be joking

[@brabanthallen]

My understanding about a plan for a manned mission to Mars (early stages, of course) is that 2 vehicles will be sent. One with the crew, and the other with supplies, tools, fuel, 02, etc. The crew vehicle separates in Martian orbit leaving the return vehicle in orbit until the crew has completed its mission on the surface. The crew must be redundant in their skills, mechanic, medicine, pilot, etc, so if something happens, anyone can take over any job of an injured crew member (for instance).

[@m.m2420]

This is the power of knowledge that Humans, tried to reach it for thousands of years. This time is really magnificent time for ever and for all scientists and human beings. I'm so happy that i'm living in this time that I can see the advancement of human knowledge and the governance of his knowledge on the universe. Undoubtedly, this knowledge has not reached us easily but humanity has fought for thousands of years to achieve it.

[@spoonikle]

I was so surprised when I saw the size of the rover. I never would have though it was that big until I saw it next to those working on it.

[@Darkwizzrobe]

This is one of the reasons why I support thorium power because the thorium cycle allows easier access to Pu238 for these kinds of scientific exploration.

[@trekgeek1]

I love the contrast between sending the rover to the launch site from JPL and sending it to Mars. They baby it and put it on a truck and drive 55 MPH to the C-17. Then you shoot it through the atmosphere on top of fire, slingshot it across space and drop it into another planets atmosphere at 13,000 MPH.

[@piranha031091]

What do you mean exposed? All the sensitive electronics are kept safe in rover's body. Only some of the instruments are exposed, and the cables running to them are heavily shielded.

[@viajer2011]

I kind of agree with you, I believe that the goals of this mission do not match the cost. This mission did not cost 2.5 million dollars, it actually cost 2.6 billion dollars. The goals is just to search for water, and geological history of Mars. Scientist and some people argue that this is done in order to shape future human mission to Mars. Humanity have to realize that it will take many years after something like that will be possible, there is not the tech neither the money to do it.

[@TheDBall73]

Some people can't comprehend how important this is. If everyone thought like liek they did what a small world we would be in. What if mankind thought building a boat and shipping across the water, having no idea where or how far it goes was a bad idea? What if people thought mankind should stay on the ground and not fly because there is nothing to learn and it's to dangerous. Just two very basic examples of the exploration of mankind. Space is simply the next area for us to learn and explore.

[@walter0bz]

their giant 3 legged walkers are far cooler than the little 6wheel buggies we send

[@trollmylove]

that is true. that is why more advancement on these sources are needed. creating solar panels that create more power for less space would be a good example. or one that could run off even very small amounts light. off topic: this is probably the most civil argument iv'e had on youtube in a LONG time

[@combatives]

How could any person dislike this video? Awesome and informative.

[@walter0bz]

thanks for the discussion; i seriously recomend you read that link; (matt savinar peak oil die off) he mentions that the reason for the mars mission is to keep the public distracted with hope of technological solutions. "look, we can look forward to resources from space!" - whilst the leaders fully know there is no solution here and are preparing for the worst (global resources wars). etc. its a very good book, puts all in perspective.

[@cuteulala1]

What sets you apart from this hateful comment is that you hated the curiosity so much that she still attracted you to this video and now you must admit ur a fan of this awesome rover instead of trolling a comment like that

[@Sirlunchalot429]

Its amazing how in such a supposedly hostile enviroment all the wiring aboard curiosity would be left exposed

[@Falcon9Block5]

I feel like this is a big comercial for a mars rover. DAMN IT I WANT ONE XD

[@ronettreker]

If by windshield wipers you mean a solar panel dust removal system (like a device that blows compressed air over the panels), yeah, it would have been a good idea to install one.

[@Pscribbled]

I swear I teared up a bit when the launch music came up at the end

[@MrBobcat975]

They tested it in a giant wind tunnel running rather slowly since they were using earth's atmosphere which is much more dense. You can see video of NASA testing the chute on youtube. The best example I can think of is imagine standing in a 30mph wind, pretty easy, then stand in a river traveling 30mph, you'd be dragged away. But if the river is only flowing at less than 1mph it would be closer to the amount of force you feel in the wind. That's because they're different densities.

[@drewkeener]

Yeah I know. I just thought a spot that had water in it at one time would have been a really cool spot to investigate. The bugger has to climb a mountain now and probably won't survive it.

[@britishareawesome69]

The signal was 20 minutes behind. so in other words it wasn't real time everything was minutes behind. but it was a constant signal. Which is why everything played out on order.

[@johnclawed]

3 points: 1 - NASA's budget is less than 1/7 of the Agriculture Department, and will be 1/8 in a couple of years. The same ratio was steady at 1/5 from the 80's until a few years ago. 2 - NASA should get more money, but it's so small now, it doesn't matter what the additional funds come out of. 3 - People who think everything goes to the DOD have no idea what we spend on what.

[@jamesfenian]

This is so fascinating as it will tell us so much about life in our own solar system and interstellar space

[@EmberQuill]

Wow, me too. I guess we're just lucky that we're both civil people. And yes, more research into renewable power sources is definitely needed, and soon. It's just the cost of such research that prevents most people from actually doing it. Fossil fuels are cheaper, even if they are nonrenewable. Far too many people think of short term profits and that's going to be a serious problem very VERY soon.

[@RomelioSanz]

I could think those can be exhausted prematurely

[@peachtrees27]

Great stuff here I haven't seen before. Thank you for putting this together. Big fun!

[@thespoon476]

The technological progress that happens through missions to space also benefits all of mankind.

[@Evansdotcom]

Radiation, temperature, speed (too many g's on entry), weight (supplies and whatnot), amenities, housing. Keep in mind that the journey to mars takes 8-9 months on its own.

[@opalishmoth8591]

Black bird: oh what's that? Never mind!

[@antonioalvescardoso9530]

Sets Curiosity, very explendid and important Future Voyage to the Mars Planet !

[@creamyalmondz]

I got teary eyed at the sad music when atlas was about to launch.

[@zackpoll]

it's a natural part of life, in which he had a great version of!

[@dontrotsky5734]

exactly! People who complain about this and general space missions being "a waste of money" have no clue about how technology progresses faster due to them. Society...

[@mifflinlax10]

0:50 That birds like "Fuck This Shit!"

[@WorldWalker128]

*Sees rocket* You compensating for something, NASA?

[@gs36able]

No matter how much rover will go to mars ...THE rover "SPIRIT will always be in my 1st plac

[@JoshuaMPatton]

Mars has an atmosphere.

[@Random30014]

Because that's how space works. When something gets there it blows.

[@MrSidney9]

Curiosity summarizes human ingenuity. An alien finds this rover and it automatically knows everything about humanity technology-wise.

[@bashkillszombies]

MrSidney9 Precisely how backwards and retarded we are, and then they invade us. :(

[@pyromanjake]

In space it doesnt matter if the spacecraft was round or not. You could make it square and it would still fly well because in space there is no air resistance and an object cant reach its terminakl velocity.

[@frantix22]

I wonder if they would tell the public if they find aliens checking out curiosity

[@Donvalerio]

the last few minutes of the video with the music reminded me of one of those wonder videos from Civ 2 :)

[@seppomuppit]

Yes it sucks that the military costs so much, but it is necessary to keep this planet stable.

[@jasonnightmare]

One of the main objectives of Curiosity is to find if there was/is life on Mars, so he'll be searching for organic molecules, microbes, and so forth. That's why it is very important that the rover is 100% sterile, before launch. It would be sad to find, let's say, microbial life forms on Mars, and then it turns out one of the mechanics sneezed while working. (I think something like that happened on one of the Moon's missions)

[@horseman528]

Whoever goes will have to carry enough supplies to last a long time. Food, water, shelter, space suits. etc. and also have to have enough fuel to return to earth. Plus a backup or repair parts in case something goes wrong on the space ship. Quite an undertaking but they can do it if they plan well enough. Thanks for the info.

[@Antimidation]

I totally agree with you, i was just making light of that "someone" claiming the money would be better spent elsewhere.

[@bary1234]

Magnifying glass would be my idea for this. Battery of enermous lenses in space so we can focus sun to a tight beam and fry Mars with them.

[@bary1234]

Superstition is the second biggest problem on this planet. To end it would be to make this world immensely brighter and happier. Its a valuable task, my time could not be spent in a better way.

[@BearAmongMen]

Is it weird this makes me tear up? Not even Up made me tear up...

[@trollmylove]

true, but in large quantities and as they become more and more efficient they could make a primary source of energy untill a better solution is found. like fusion.

[@1950lo]

The rain is not caused by the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Its caused by the evaporation of water from oceans and seas

[@shadowfayte1]

the cost of transport i do agree with but if they made them small enough to where it doesn't matter as much then the problem is slightly less of a challenge. making things as big as Curiosity wouldn't be practical for helper robots and keeping up with the rover isn't really a big problem if you take into consideration that they could just meet up at certain places at certain times.

[@jeffk412]

I believe it is to prevent any earthbound contaminants being introduced onto the craft which could possibly be detected by the equipment on curiosity. Please correct me if I am wrong... Cheers!

[@LeelaSEclub]

Не люблю США, но отдаю должное их межпланетным программам. Заслуженный лайк!

[@ramanakv6059]

Success comes from Failures

[@martin1226]

We embarked on our journey to the stars with a question first framed in the childhood of our species and in each generation asked anew with undiminished wonder: What are the stars? Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. -The Carl

[@DarkAngel71180]

That's a sexy piece of machinery.

[@SianaGearz]

Assembly of these rovers is not a major cost, not compared to the cost of development and research, which implies dozens of prototypes built and scrapped, and the delivery to mars - can you even imagine the distance, the amount of energy? By the time the battery is depleted, the rover will have explored its surroundings very well. New instruments will need to be built and the next rover deployed to a different location based on results of this mission.

[@redSHIFT69]

the Mars Curiosity is on a rescue mission to find the other downed mars Rovers

[@lobsterbark]

Deep sea divers don't use nitrogen in the air they breathe, they use helium. Using helium as a nitrogen replacement on mars is unworkable, but some other gas could be used. I don't know enough about chemistry to know what would be a good alternative, but there might be one.

[@kydrice]

You also need to take in the fact that Mars' atmosphere is much less dense that Earth's thus the amount of radiation that hits Mars would kill any tree unless artificially shielded. Also the fact that Trees would never just spontaneously grow out of nothing. Trees didn't just sprout on Earth, it had to go through phases of mold,fungus,lichen which are much more robust and can withstand harsh climates then once the atmosphere and the ground soil chemistry was right trees began to grow.

[@acatibog594]

Felt like I was about to battle the Elite 4 at the beginning...

[@adelaluz]

I am sure that this Curiosity Rover is going to descover and see many things in it's active days, I just hope that every thing that it stubles with would be made known to the public,

[@connor129s]

23.77 meters per hour 570.48 meters per day 416457.7 meters per 2 years ^ Take of time for the vehicle to stop and test rocks + other instruments being used would likely mean it would travel a bit under 400km in its 2 years. Ie the width of north dakota.

[@TonyWoody]

we've gotten rovers on mars, man on the moon, and an orbital laboratory. nothing can stop america now.

[@hemantawagle8604]

Its fantastic and for human life so i salute for this topic

[@ferrous719]

actually there's a company called Mars One that is looking to send people to mars in about 10 years. 4 people to start, to build infrastructure, then 2-4 people very 2 years for the next 10-20 years. Trying to figure out how we can get on that boat : )

[@superjaninja]

0:49 american eagle like a boss

[@mcsdaver]

The rover has nuclear power. They send commands to the rover's computer and it completes each task given to it.

[@DontCloudMe]

What a tragic turn of events! After all of that, and not even 2 weeks in ...

[@walter0bz]

easter island is a perfect metaphor for us, only now its on a global scale.

[@johnkang2000]

You do realize we spend 4 times amount of that on tanks. It was incredibly depressing when NASA announced it was finished with most of the space programs. Sure we can spend more money into things like cure for AIDS and global energy crisis, but like Feynman said we need a frontier, something to venture into, exoansionism is one of the most basic human instint. Also, national debt? Make no mistake, just cancelling all space programs will not even put a crack in it.

[@runnermonkey]

Curiosity is an amazing achievment

[@CyclonicTuna023]

If they would just cut the defense budget we could've been living on mars already. Sending rovers to Venus.

[@danmulcrone6581]

Agree with your first comment (I didn't like the inserted ads either.) Can't agree with the second, as KZbin offers a great variety of very intersting and uninterupted videos, and no, I don't work for them.

[@Belfast911]

Irish music played at launch, shows these lads and las's routes.

[@MrBugsyD]

the video says the robot is laying the groundwork for a "manned" mission to mars so yes it could be retrievable

[@anthonyyan338]

what did he mean by "making sure the rover doesn't interact with itself badly"?