The '7 Minutes of Terror' video clearly details NASAs game-plan to land on a rover on Mars, which is a far cry from the secrecy-filled days of the Cold War.
Considering the United States have been the only country able to land a rover successfully on Mars, the fact that they explain the steps to do so, no matter how watered-down and simple they are portrayed in the video, is odd. Featuring a never-before-tested landing technique, the Curiosity rover is shown entering, descending and landing onto Mars. What is stressed is the fact that NASA will be seven minutes in the dark regarding the result of the landing. Since it takes the rover seven minutes to land but 14 minutes for data to be sent back to Earth, the rover could be dead or alive as the NASA team waits for the information.
The video serves as a superb resource for all sci-fi geeks, inspiration for any up-and-coming engineers, and just a really cool clip to watch as an Earth-grounded citizen.
What's Driving This Trend
- Mars Landing Technology
- Opportunities exist for disruptive innovation in the development of new landing techniques and technologies for successful rover landings on Mars.
- Real-time Data Transmission
- Innovation opportunities exist for technologies that would enable real-time data transmission from the rover to Earth during the landing process.
- Mars-based Research Initiatives
- There is enormous potential for innovation in the development of new scientific research initiatives and technologies focused on Mars.
Who This Affects Most
- Space Exploration
- The space exploration industry has an opportunity to promote development of new technologies to support successful landing of rovers on Mars.
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aerospace companies have an opportunity to develop new landing techniques and technologies to support the safe and successful landing of rovers on Mars.
- Scientific Research & Development
- The scientific research and development industry has an opportunity to develop new initiatives and technologies focused on research of Mars and its environment.
