I finally remembered to bring my camera to work today to grab a couple of snaps. Up at the Mars Yard they had the Athlete vehicle out for testing. Down at the Space Flight Operations Facility there were a bunch of satellites being tracked and talked to. Elsewhere on lab, people were working on a plan to get the Spirit MSL rover unstuck from the sand. In the afternoon some friends from NASA Ames came down for a short tour. These are the photos and videos of a typical day at JPL.
The Mars Science Laboratory happened to be sitting out by the front entrance in the morning.
One of the alleyways between buildings. Note the gaseous liquid nitrogen torpedo tanks on the left. (thanks Jim for correcting me!)
ROBO-DOME! Two bots enter! Only one bot will leave!
Mars Yard with Athlete going through its paces.
Where we manufacture analog material for Mars and Moon testing.
Aerial view of the Mars Yard with Athlete doing some tests.
Athlete’s driving abilities through loose sand were being characterized.
The guy by Athlete was moving the power tether around to make sure Athlete didn’t cut its own power.
A Mars Exploration Rover prototype sitting in the Mars Yard garage.
A Sojourner prototype waiting for the day that it might be useful again.
Some other rover analogue with a joystick.
Another rover in the garage.
Such awesome machining and attention to detail!
Thumbs up for the Athlete!
It’s rather large. And this is only about a 1/4th scale model of the final version!
The robot tried to kill me. I made a miraculous recovery.
Another building at JPL. I think this is the Spacecraft Assembly Facility. Notice the liquid nitrogen tank and evaporators. (Thanks Jim for correcting me!)
The A-Team interns from NASA Ames showed up in the afternoon.
We went to the Spacecraft Flight Operations Facility, otherwise known as Mission Control.
On the way to the next stop we walked through our Jurassic Park compound.
In the Solar System Simulation group.
Just another day at JPL.
Looking down toward the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Highbay #1 where the Mars Science Laboratory is being assembled.
At the Mars Exploration Rover testbed. They are still trying to figure out how to Free Spirit.
Inside the Von Karmen Auditorium looking at some of the spacecraft mock-ups.
