http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/gallery...animation.html

This is very cool!
You get to see the animation of the launch, the rocket dispelling its parts until just the capsule remains and fires for a bit, the entry, the "mooon-bounce"-like landing, and the rover coming out and exporing.


This site gives stills of the launch from the video:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/mission...quenceDef.html

And while I'm at it, this sit give launch stats and links to viewing on person, on NASA TV or over the internet.

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/mission/launch_e.html

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"As I lay beneath the Southern Cross, the stars tell more than I could" . . . David Meece

Hey, great animation. Thanks for posting it. I have a two questions, if I may...

1) Not really a question, actually... There was sound in space.
2) After launch, some rockets fire top start the craft spinning, and shortly after some tethered weights (I assume) elongate out to the sides to (again, I assume) stop the craft from spinning. Why is this done?

Aporetic
www.polisci.wisc.edu/~rdparrish

Amazing video!
But sounds in space NASA? you should know better. [wags finger at the sound editor]

[quote="nebularain"]http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/video/animation.html

This is very cool!
You get to see the animation of the launch, the rocket dispelling its parts until just the capsule remains and fires for a bit, the entry, the "mooon-bounce"-like landing, and the rover coming out and exporing.


You are right this is very cool. In Kansas City at Sceince City they have a rover that you can actually play with.

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My initials are on the moon, my name is on Mars and Earth is my planet of origin.

1) My guess is that it's easier to give the public that doesn't know better what they expect than what is correct, in this case. Imagine Johnny Q public watching this video - and suddenly the sound cuts off! For us, who know better, it would be cool (err - where exactly would the sound-cut-off point be, anyway?). But for everyone else, there would need to be a disclaimer note as to why there was all of a sudden no sound (Uh, no, this is not a glitch in the program!). Like I said, this is my guess anyway.

2) I'm glad you asked! I will be even more glad when someone actually answers this, 'cause I was wonderin' the same thing meself (!).

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"As I lay beneath the Southern Cross, the stars tell more than I could" . . . David Meece

From the mission timeline:

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"Too low they build, who build beneath the stars". - Edward Young, 1745

Explanation of third stage (scroll down a little)

Basically, the spin provides stability while thrusting - it's cheaper than putting the equipment in place to both monitor the spacecraft's attitude and correct it.

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.