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Curiosity Engineers to do an AMA on Thursday, 8/16, at 11am EDT (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by Garrettishere

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[–]CuriosityMarsRover 54 points55 points ago

We're looking forward to tomorrow's AMA and wanted to give you a heads up on who will participate. We're a group of engineers from landing night, plus team members (scientists and engineers) working on surface operations. We also wanted to point you to the mission press kit in case you want to read up. It's at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_kits/MSLLanding.pdf . Here's the list of participants so far: Bobak Ferdowsi aka “Mohawk Guy” - Flight Director

Steve Collins aka “Hippy NASA Guy” - Cruise Attitude Control/System engineer

Aaron Stehura - EDL Systems Engineer

Jonny Grinblat aka “Pre-celebration Guy” - Avionics System Engineer

Brian Schratz - EDL telecommunications lead

Keri Bean - Mastcam uplink lead/environmental science theme group lead

Rob Zimmerman - Power/Pyro Systems Engineer

Steve Sell - Deputy Operations Lead for EDL

Scott McCloskey -­ Turret Rover Planner

@MarsCuriosity Twitter Team

[–]redditor9000 17 points18 points ago

We at /r/space, hope you will either go to /r/askscience for the AMA, or /r/science. The question quality will be much better in our opinion.

[–]omfg_msl_ama 18 points19 points ago

As much as I love the open AMA format I would also request that this gets done in /r/askscience. To get to question such a team is an extraordinary opportunity and reddit's time budget should be concidered precious (something I'm sure the MSL team is quite familiar with). It would be sad to have it diluted with the crap that general reddit can dish out.

/r/askscience +1

[–]bayareatrojan 3 points4 points ago

This is going to be amazing! Thank you!

[–]noncentz 1 point2 points ago

Well this is pretty much the best thing ever right now. I can't wait.

[–]Hauk2004 0 points1 point ago

Really looking forward to this!

[–]ChristianM 116 points117 points ago

Let's keep that AMA like we keep /r/askscience threads. Please!

[–]SvenHudson 63 points64 points ago

Yeah. Good luck with that.

[–]Geler 42 points43 points ago

will be ok if the AMA is in /r/askscience

[–]MooseMoosington 25 points26 points ago

Askscience would be too rigid in my opinion, but it is a better option than /r/IAmA for these guys.

[–]DWill88 22 points23 points ago

"WAT IS UR VERY FAVORITE COLOR? AND WHY?"

[–]AlphaCunt 34 points35 points ago

"WIL U LAND MARS ROVER ON SUN TOOO!?"

[–]mehatch 8 points9 points ago

Yes but it'll happen at night so it will be too dark to see anything from the onboard cameras.

[–]PinkSockLoliPop 4 points5 points ago

There's also an eclipse happening then, too, if i'm not mistaken.

[–]doom_particles 1 point2 points ago

I want you to be a middle school teacher. Those fuckers need a good dose of factual science.

[–]chucks138 0 points1 point ago

don't forget "MOWHAWK GUY MERRI ME!"

[–]Ambiwlans 7 points8 points ago

I wish AMAs had a rule about asking shit that you can Google.

Elon Musk did an AMA and people asked stupid shit he'd answered dozens of times in the past :(

[–]QuantumG 2 points3 points ago

That basically describes every Elon Musk interview...

Well, in college there was these 3 things....

[–]Ambiwlans 0 points1 point ago

One time an interviewer is going to say: "Remember that standard bit you give all the time, mind doing that one again for us?"

[–]BunnyPoppit 2 points3 points ago

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Im excited.

[–]knowsalotofthings 7 points8 points ago

Why? Of course, there will be formal questions but questions like, "did anyone shit their pants during the landing?" also have their place.

[–]RUPTURED_ASSHOLE 1 point2 points ago

Indeed. AMA doesn't mean "ask me science questions only".

[–]mellokind 6 points7 points ago

I think its not so much "science questions only" as it is, just a preference for an elimination of a good portion of the asinine reddit meme regurgitaion and retarded childish jokes.

[–]rummonkey 0 points1 point ago

I can understand why some want to protect the Curiosity team from Reddit at its silliest. But that's the price of outreach. You could limit the questions to the most carefully considered, thoroughly researched and scientifically relevant. Make it an AMA for the Redditors already excited about the Mars mission. Alternatively you throw your doors open to all. Risk some pointless comments and dodgy memes, but in the process inspire new people to a love of science and excitement about the universe. That's not to stop the heavyweight questions, ask those. But maybe cut some slack for the lighter questions too. We all have to start somewhere.

[–]ChristianM 0 points1 point ago

If you're a redditor and you haven't found your interest in space exploration by now (after all the posts), you won't find it in the future either.

[–]TheLoneHoot 271 points272 points ago

Let's not focus on peoples' hairstyles, and in stead focus on genuine questions.

SUGGESTION:

1.) Watch the MSL press conferences on NASA TV

  • Dish Network ch. 286
  • DirecTV ch. 346 (if you want to pay the $10 DirecTV charges for a free HD channel NASA provides them)
  • local cable where available
  • on the web @ http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

2.) Try to ask questions that haven't been asked or didn't seem clear in the press conferences, e.g., don't ask if they plan to survey the skycrane vehicle crash site (they don't and it's been asked a lot).

3.) Don't politicize the AMA with ridiculous claims about the future of our space program being outsourced to Russia, how much better spent the money would have been on the hungry/poor, etc. These are fine for /r/politics but the JPL folks aren't going to be able to speak about those topics, and probably don't have all the data necessary to fully discuss them anyway. They're Mars-focused.

4.) Don't suggest, link, or direct to non-/r/space subreddits - these folks can't officially discuss, comment, or contribute to /r/spacedicks, /r/gonewild, or anything NSFW.

[–]gemcitytiffany 55 points56 points ago

I wish that this AMA could be done within /r/space or something, but purely because it would limit the amount of people asking questions and making them better questions. I can see this turning into a free for all. I've never made it to an AMA in time to submit a question that someone would actually see... and the top question is always something stupid as hell that never gets answered.

[–]TheLoneHoot 25 points26 points ago

Yep. I know exactly what you're saying. I'm wagering the top comment will be something about "epic mohawk rocket scientist guy" or "Elvis guy", or cheat codes for the next level of the rover software. <facepalm>

[–]gemcitytiffany 11 points12 points ago

Yeah, I mean, I'll be honest, I was swooning over Mohawk guy after a little champagne that night and I added him on twitter. But I actually sent him some real questions about the rover. He didn't answer, but I'm sure he got like 1,000 marriage proposals that night... But yeah. I would love to see real questions answered.

[–]_supernovasky_ 8 points9 points ago

Can we PLEASE have this? I hate /r/iama anyway.

[–]rock99rock 4 points5 points ago

I only got the one reply, so I suggested to him /r/IAmA .

[–]dacohenii -2 points-1 points ago

sad_trombone.wav

[–]theduderman 13 points14 points ago

If Bobak having a mohawk gets a human interested in science who somehow helps to put a human on Mars in 20-30 years I'm ok with talking about YOLO and swag. Whatever gets the kids interested in science and space exploration is a good thing, even if it's something simple like an awesome haircut.

[–]toastman85 6 points7 points ago

Yeah, it's Ask Me ANYTHING and shouldn't be limited only to questions about Rampart... I mean "serious NASA questions." They don't have to answer every dumb question, after all.

[–]Astroweeds 4 points5 points ago

An 8/14 press teleconference archive that has some good questions that have already been asked/discussed: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/24703937

[–]Vault-tecPR 4 points5 points ago

I'm just going to sit back and let the more informed people ask the questions. This is going to be really fun!

[–]Insuranceisboring 7 points8 points ago

Easy Mr. Hoot. I'll ask what I want. Like, how the MSL speaks to the MRO, in what frequency, transmission schedule, data speed, AND HOW AWESOME IT IS TO HAVE A CAR ON MARS?

[–]TheLoneHoot 5 points6 points ago

I never said not to ask good questions - those are good questions. Besides it was just a suggestion. Feel free to spacedick it up if you think it's worth it.

[–]Insuranceisboring 2 points3 points ago

It's a great suggestion on your part, i was just being a bit sarcastic... be well.

[–]chucks138 1 point2 points ago

This could help with a few of the jovial questions that will come up too: From the NPR show - Wait Wait, Don't tell me. http://www.npr.org/2012/08/11/158560487/not-my-job-we-quiz-nasa-engineers-on-mars-candy

[–]bakersgonnabake -2 points-1 points ago

NPR focused on the hair and the groupies...why can't we?

[–]wildo421 2 points3 points ago

NPR focused on the hair and the groupies

is why

[–]breakneckridge -1 points0 points ago

3.) Don't politicize the AMA

I'm with you on all of your points except for this one. Politics is an EXTREMELY integral to the the MSL mission (and also to the future of NASA's missions), so it's absolutely appropriate to ask questions about that.

[–]TheLoneHoot 0 points1 point ago

These are fine for /r/politics but the JPL folks aren't going to be able to speak about those topics, and probably don't have all the data necessary to fully discuss them anyway. They're Mars-focused.

I agree that the political ramifications of our space program and its funding & direction (and let's not forget that NASA is a whole lot more than just space) are indeed important.

However, this was a chance to speak with folks from JPL, which is run on behalf of NASA (by grace of our tax dollars), and not people who are necessarily qualified to speak about NASA budgetary or strategic matters. They are engineers, physicists, IT folks, and planetary scientists. They are ridiculously smart and talented. And admittedly they have a vested interest in a dialogue about NASA's future, funding, and political stakes.

However, they cannot (and I assure you WILL NOT) speak about politics on NASA's behalf. There ARE people at NASA who will discuss (even frankly) such matters but they are in different positions. Why waste time and misdirect an /r/space related AMA with matters they won't discuss?

[–]WhatTheFDR 32 points33 points ago

http://i.imgur.com/7HM3y.gif

[–]mikebsnyder 31 points32 points ago

Well, this is the best thing I've heard today.

[–]pdubbz 5 points6 points ago

This is the most excited I have been for an IAMA since........

[–]iamdanhi 5 points6 points ago

Yeah there have been past AMAs that I found interesting but this is the first one I'm excitedly anticipating.

[–]linlorienelen 4 points5 points ago

84-year-old Joseph Kittinger has one tomorrow too, just sayin'.

[–]42harryb 1 point2 points ago

Really? How do you know? Love that guy.

[–]linlorienelen 2 points3 points ago

Happened to catch it on the sidebar when I was actually on the site, and not on my phone for once. I forgot what time though.

[–]42harryb 1 point2 points ago

Ah thanks.

[–]pdubbz 1 point2 points ago

I will be sure to read that. Stratus is back baby!

[–]rollamac2006 0 points1 point ago

I agree. It's cool that they actually suggested it instead of us.

[–]lostnwndrlnd 11 points12 points ago

They could follow nathan fillion and post it in /r/seattle

[–]Todomanna 7 points8 points ago

An AMA of Curiosity Engineers? On my birthday? Sure, that sounds nice. Now if only I wasn't working all day...

[–]magusg 5 points6 points ago

God dammit, I love reddit more than anything ever.

[–]sonik13 9 points10 points ago

My sprunger is throbbing.

[–]scriptmonkey420 1 point2 points ago

I found this curled up hair that looks like a 6.

[–]nephalem2012 2 points3 points ago

Why is the time EDT? isn't the JPL in California?

[–]nothingmattress 7 points8 points ago

They're on Mars time..

[–]LeagueOfRobots 2 points3 points ago

This isn't the answer. This is a joke.

[–]timeshifter_ 0 points1 point ago

The tweet is in Pacific time, if you'd bothered to click on the link. The headline converts to EDT, probably because it's a more oft-used time frame.

[–]tfreed 2 points3 points ago

This post just launched my Curiosity out of this world.

[–]hobokenbob 2 points3 points ago

i'm wondering how exactly they even came up with the idea of a sky crane. it's so out of the box and crazy, there's got to be an awesome story behind it.

[–]iamdanhi 1 point2 points ago

I recall them saying they had many ideas on how to land the rover, I think they may have said that the skycrane was one of the more tame ideas (I can't remember if that was actually said or if my brain is making it up). I want to ask what some of those other ideas were.

[–]wtf_are_you_talking 0 points1 point ago

Yes, that was asked on the conference day 1 or 2 if I remember correctly.

Reporter asked what are those other ideas that were rejected and mission director said they wanted to use past missions designs. Those were obviously incapable of landing 900kg rover so a skycrane was pretty much the best thing they could do with their planning.

[–]bhalash 6 points7 points ago

Cue 300 questions about mohawk styling. -_-

[–]nothingmattress 6 points7 points ago

Why is that a screenshot of the tweet rather than a link to the tweet?

https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/status/235525700881358848 - see? Not so difficult.

[–]millidooms 22 points23 points ago

Because why not? Loads faster, all the info is there. There are no additional links you need to worry about.

Reddit apps don't like Twitter.

[–]nothingmattress -5 points-4 points ago

There's no way an image of text is better than text, especially on sites like Twitter that know how to handle the load. How is an image going to load faster than text? Image file itself is many times larger than the text.

If it was a link to the actual tweet, I could have easily re-tweeted it rather than having to type it by hand.

Also, it might help Twitter's trending algorithms and position the tweet on top. Right now all this trending information is going to imgur.com instead, who won't do a thing with it.

[–]millidooms 3 points4 points ago

Not sure how, just does. Twitter on mobile has always sucked, takes forever to load. It has gotten better recently though.

Also obviously it's not just text it's loading, it's the whole mobile site. Which is a pos.

Reddit apps don't like to load Twitter at all. I tried that link in two of the best Android Reddit apps right now (Reddit News and Reddit Sync) and the screen goes grey for long enough for me to back out or open it in Chrome. I don't think it ever actually loads. And I'm on Wifi btw.

Why do you need to retweet it? Are you a blogger? Someone in the media? Famous person? Content creator? Just curious really.

[–]HumanistGeek 0 points1 point ago

The twitter site requires the user to run javascript in order to see tweets. So the text loads after the javascript has executed, which may take longer than simply loading and displaying a small image.

[–]LeagueOfRobots 0 points1 point ago

I would suggest to you that the tweet itself being seen by the rover's followers will create a huge buzz. A handful of /r/space subscribers being linked to the tweet instead of a picture won't make a lick of difference to these 'trending algorithms'.

[–]nothingmattress -1 points0 points ago

According to imgur the image received nearly 100,000 views. If it was a Twitter link and even 1/10th of the visitors re-tweeted, we'd have 10,000 retweets. Surely that would generate more buzz, eh?

But it's not even about that. Linking to an image on the website that some user uploaded is so WRONG when there's the fucking Twitter post RIGHT THERE... Did you know that LOC archives all tweets, so they may be seen 100's of years from now? Does it still make sense to take a screenshot of a tweet and post it?

The point is, link to the data, not to the picture of a picture of a data.

On a different note, I can't believe I got downvoted. I have a very logical argument, am being respectful of others, and yet, this shit? Not that I give a single fuck, but fuck you, Reddit. Fuck you.

[–]LeagueOfRobots 0 points1 point ago

Does it still make sense to take a screenshot of a tweet and post it?

Yes because karma.

[–]skyclown 2 points3 points ago

When can we expect 3D HD video?

[–]XaulXan 2 points3 points ago

8AM on the west, as in morning time? With the sun and stuff?

[–]aggieastronaut 3 points4 points ago

8am is lunch time to those of us on Mars time right now.

[–]DWill88 2 points3 points ago

What a cool community Reddit is, man. It's gotten big over the last couple years, but opportunities like this are one of the benefits.

[–]itsmesasha 2 points3 points ago

and they also were on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" in NPR last Saturday, they are really cool. You can still listen to the podcast http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/

[–]redditor9000 1 point2 points ago

That was awesome. Thanks for the link!

[–]Bennykill709 2 points3 points ago

It is currently 11:11 Am EDT... where is the AMA?

[–]anxiety_reader 2 points3 points ago

Here

[–]adiman 5 points6 points ago

Why not a direct link?

[–]Geler 16 points17 points ago

Because mobile users

[–]timeshifter_ 1 point2 points ago

I don't see why mobile users would have any problem there...

[–]TheCruise 6 points7 points ago

Images load a lot quicker than websites, especially on mobile phones.

[–]timeshifter_ 3 points4 points ago

The entirety of that Twitter page is <600kb. Not exactly a heavy load, even for phones.

[–]IAmAQuantumMechanic 10 points11 points ago

Javascript. Bloody javascript. You have to mash the back button like you're playing mortal kombat, just to get back.

[–]timeshifter_ 3 points4 points ago

Not anymore, they got rid of the hashbang problem. Single page load now.

[–]IAmAQuantumMechanic 12 points13 points ago

Well, I'm still ANGRY.

[–]millidooms 2 points3 points ago

Reddit apps don't like Twitter.

[–]TheCruise 1 point2 points ago

I agree, I was just pointing out the reasoning behind taking a screenshot of the tweet.

[–]ghdana -1 points0 points ago

It took literally 3 seconds.

[–]GladiusRomanus 1 point2 points ago

My first question? When are you going to drive the damn thing?

[–]dearastronomer 3 points4 points ago

Soon(TM)

Seriously, now that the systems have checked out, and the new firmware is in place, the team is gearing up to do some test movements of the rover in the coming days.

[–]GladiusRomanus 1 point2 points ago

Awesome- exciting

[–]iamdanhi 0 points1 point ago

Past AMAs have been interesting at times but this is the first time I've really been excited for one.

[–]mcbunn 0 points1 point ago

A couple of them were on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me this past weekend and were fantastic. Looking forward to it.

[–]AhhhBROTHERS 1 point2 points ago

that might be the day reddit explodes.

[–]HokieGeek 0 points1 point ago

i just pissed myself.... I need to come up with questions!

[–]ComeShotMcGee 0 points1 point ago

YES!

[–]sexyhamster89 0 points1 point ago

fucking awesome

[–]WillPoopForFood 1 point2 points ago

But how many engineers should be questioned? Very important question.

There could be some good questions as long as people actually ask them instead of the "I think space is the most important thing ever WE SHUD FUNDIT" comments

[–]wildo421 1 point2 points ago

"I don't have a question but people will still upvote me."

[–]Jemmani 0 points1 point ago

i think i just shit myself

[–]meetoohighlx 0 points1 point ago

awesomeness, going to start thinking of questions now!

[–]replicated 1 point2 points ago

I wish they could just keep working opposed to being forced to read stupid hipster shit questions and memes on here. Every time someone important does one of these it's always the shit that rises to the top, I wish there was a way that only those actually interested in science and not just interested in being attention whores could know about these things. I bet at the end of the day the highest voted comment will be a complete waste.

[–]yiddishdarkness 1 point2 points ago

This. This is why I love you, Reddit.

[–]jwaldo 0 points1 point ago

Shame, I won't be here. I'll be on a camping trip. With one of the Curiosity team.

I guess I'll A him A and report back...

[–]wildo421 1 point2 points ago

I'll be on a camping trip. With one of the Curiosity team.

Dat innuendo.

[–]OrigamiTrail 0 points1 point ago

No way they will be able to keep up

[–]mehatch 0 points1 point ago

At first I was like ...oh god im gettin gold, a front-page-AMA-worthy band exists and i've never heard of them. Then I was like, oh, im just dumb.

[–]HurricaneHugo 1 point2 points ago

I thought it was the actual rover tweeting =(

[–]PinkSockLoliPop 0 points1 point ago

Why do these things always happen during work hours? I'd bet only half make it in due to constraints with work and such.

[–]tyrroi -1 points0 points ago

Spongebob is me! https://twitter.com/tyrroi

[–]noNoParts 0 points1 point ago

However this pans out, good/bad/ugly, I'm super excited!

[–]SaggyBagz 0 points1 point ago

Could we see some of your answers on video too??? :-)

[–]confuseum 0 points1 point ago

Naysa

NSFW language

[–]UrbanCobra 1 point2 points ago

I have an idea, no pun threads, no gif threads, no inside joke circlejerks. Can we all put on our big boy pants and agree to this?

[–]s1bbald 0 points1 point ago

I don't actually think I'm bright enough to pose any questions to these guys on what they do, but I hope I remember to drop by (whatever time in Aus this is on) and thank them for everything they've done.

[–]mbragahenebry 0 points1 point ago

fuck. i'll be on a plane!

[–]starfox863 0 points1 point ago

I would just like to say that it would be awesome to work at a place that let you have a moehawk.

Not that I want one... just want the option.

[–]zoltek 1 point2 points ago

Hour and a half and counting...

[–]robodale 0 points1 point ago

Let's get this meme over with before the engineers show up: Well sir, there's nothing on Mars like a genuine, bona-fide, electrified, ten-instrument Marsrover! What'd I say?

[–]TheGeorge 0 points1 point ago

My questions to add:

I couldn't access the Mars Video stream cause all the servers were full, will you be increasing server sizes soon?

[–]youessbee 0 points1 point ago

NOOOOOOOO!!! I'll be at work :(

[–]gamefreak2600 -2 points-1 points ago

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out at 11AM EDT ;_;

[–]cheezncrackerz -1 points0 points ago

This marks the first thing ever to happen on Reddit important enough for me to write in my calendar.

[–]Iron_tiger_of_flames 0 points1 point ago

I'm going to be busy, tell them to reschedule. Thanks

[–]Toastdyogurt -1 points0 points ago

i really hope they dont do it in the "official" ama subreddit

[–]frMort -4 points-3 points ago

First off, how do you feel about your crushing victory over theists?

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