NASA attempts to communicate with enemy through Morse code, but to no avail
21 replies, posted
[b]Curiosity Takes Its First Drive, Leaving Morse Code on Mars[/b]
[quote]When the creators of Curiosity built the rover that would explore Mars, they gave its wheels special treads. The marks left by Curiosity's tires as they tool through the dust of the Martian soil won't just serve as visual odometry markers, allowing Curiosity's engineers to determine the rover's orientation and distance traveled; they'll also send a message. Specifically, this message:
[quote]short long long long
short long long short
short long short short[/quote]
Which is also to say, in Morse code:
[quote]. - - -
. - - .
. - . .[/quote]
Which is also to say, translating that code: J-P-L, the acronym for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- Curiosity's creator.
Yes. A calling card, coded into Curiosity's every move. Which was feasible for JPL engineers this time around because of Curiosity's advanced design. The wheels of Opportunity, Curiosity's predecessor, had basic, square holes, which allowed the rover to be bolted to its lander during cruise and touchdown. Since Curiosity didn't have a lander, though -- the thing, famously, pretty much landed itself -- JPL engineers suddenly had the freedom to create cleats in Curiosity's wheels that were aesthetic rather than pragmatic in function. And the Morse-to-Mars tribute to their work is what they chose.[/quote]
An image of our courageous attempt:
[img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/mars_tracks.jpg[/img]
[img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/curiosity_wheel_pattern_morse_code.png[/img]
[quote]In the black-and-white image above -- a mosaic made from 23 full-resolution frames, displayed in cylindrical projection -- you can see a nearly 360-degree panorama of Curiosity's cosmic vista, complete with evidence of the rover's maiden voyage on Mars. The track marks captured by Curiosity's navigation camera represent, all together, a dance that would make Arthur Murray proud: In its first, tentative drive, Curiosity moved forward 15 feet or so, then rotated 120 degrees and reversed about 8 feet. [/quote]
NASA have released a statement saying, not only did the Rocks ignore our peaceful attempt, but they have not yet retaliated for our use of an inferior communication device, which they may find insulting.
[url=http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/08/curiosity-takes-its-first-drive-leaving-morse-code-on-mars/261453/]Source[/url]
Good thing alien morse code is the same as our morse code, right?
[QUOTE=Pat4ever;37372642]Good thing alien morse code is the same as our morse code, right?[/QUOTE]
ACKACK ACK ACKACK
Well figure miles and miles of repeated man-made tracks will be a good bulletin regardless of the viewers comprehension.
That being said I think they confused Mars with the Moon over at NASA, as I'm pretty sure Mars has wind and will very quickly erase them. :v:
[quote]Which is also to say, translating that code: J-P-L, the acronym for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- Curiosity's creator.[/quote]
That's nice, then the martians will know where to return it to if it gets lost.
[QUOTE=Pat4ever;37372642]Good thing alien morse code is the same as our morse code, right?[/QUOTE]
you're seriously asking do alien rocks have the same morse code as us?
yes, yes they do
[QUOTE=Swebonny;37372651]ACKACK ACK ACKACK[/QUOTE]
I fucking love that movie
How did they do this on their NASA budget?
They aren't there to communicate, they're there to easily tell how far they've driven when looking in a photo
[QUOTE=TheTalon;37373047]They aren't there to communicate, they're there to easily tell how far they've driven when looking in a photo[/QUOTE]
That's silly, you wouldn't use morse code for that
the only logical explanation is that we're trying to communicate with the martians
unfortunately they aren't answering our attempts at diplomacy
[QUOTE=TheTalon;37373047]They aren't there to communicate, they're there to easily tell how far they've driven when looking in a photo[/QUOTE]
I'm fairly sure they have more advanced tech for determining that than tracks on wheels.
[QUOTE=Naaz;37372910]How did they do this on their NASA budget?[/QUOTE]
[img]http://ezscrap.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/singleHolePunch.jpg[/img]
I think this lack of response is a clear indication that the Martians may be preparing for an assault, NASA should allow Curiosity to just open fire on everything and teach them a lesson.
This is more of a dickwaving than a communication attempt.
[QUOTE=G71tc4;37374331]This is more of a dickwaving than a communication attempt.[/QUOTE]
I'd say NASA are entitled to some dickwaving at this point
Wonder what the Martians will wave back
Attach a bunch of Christmas lights, make a beacon.
[QUOTE=Swebonny;37372651]ACKACK ACK ACKACK[/QUOTE]
Sounds like a footballer trying to clear his nose
[QUOTE=digigamer17;37374595]Sounds like a footballer trying to clear his nose[/QUOTE]
You've never seen Mars Attacks, have you?
[QUOTE=RayvenQ;37374772]You've never seen Mars Attacks, have you?[/QUOTE]
No.
I've seen Red Dwarf though.
[QUOTE=BreenIsALie;37374382]I'd say NASA are entitled to some dickwaving at this point
Wonder what the Martians will wave back[/QUOTE]
Laser beams sequenced in a morse code translated "FUCK YOU"
[QUOTE=EcksDee;37373176]I'm fairly sure they have more advanced tech for determining that than tracks on wheels.[/QUOTE]
They do, but just go with me on this
[quote]The dashes and dots are more than just an autograph on the ground. They serve as "visual odometry" marks, which allow Curiosity's engineers to determine the position and orientation of the rover, as well as how far it traveled, by analyzing images of its tracks.[/quote]
[quote]"We have intentionally put holes in the wheels to leave a unique track on Mars," Heverly said. "So if we are in sand dunes where we don't have lots of rock features around us, we can use those patterns to do our visual odometry."[/quote]