NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories recruitment ads (via fdecomite)

Ads from late 60’s Scientific American.

(via: bluedogeyes)

Curiosity Tests Its Wheels

Still in the warm-up phases of its expedition, Curiosity has been doing its stretches before it sets out for an epic journey to nearby Aeolis Mons (second pic) a 3 mile big mountain inside Mars’ Gale Crater to check out the billion-years old geological record. It’s always important to do stretches before a strenuous workout, don’t want to pull a piston!

(GIF: Emily Lakdawalla via:  ianbrooks, io9 / nbcnews photoblog)

I had the real-time computer simulation of Curiosities progress open for about four hours, during which I spent a good deal just staring at the screen as the rover approached Mars. This was something I had looked forward to for a long time, and on the day I was so anxious that I could hardly sit still. 

I mean sure, I did nearly miss the landing because when I went to the kitchen to get a drink, I saw that Anchorman was on and I got distracted. But I didn’t, so it’s okay! 

Mars and Opportunity

Photo credit: Mars Rover Opportunity. Periodically, the plucky rover needs to check itself out and admire all it’s accomplished…9 years of dedicated service in the field of extra-planetary exploration. These are also good times for NASA to check out how much Martian dust has accumulated on the rover. The top photo is from its latest destination, Endeavor Crator.

(top image composite arranged by Don Davis, via: msnbc.photoblog)

(via: ianbrooks)