The incredible NASA rover Curiosity would not be exploring Mars right now without a spirit of cooperation. Teamwork.
Any project as ambitious as this involves disagreements and hard choices in advance of the mission. Scientists and engineers debate whether certain technological breakthroughs should be attempted. Astronomers lend advice on the logistics of the flight and the climate present on the planet. Planners and administrators assess the costs of components and experiments. Eventually, leaders weigh the information, expertise and diverse opinions, and decide on a course of action.
At that point, the participants must pull together to succeed.
NASA did just that, allowing its Curiosity rover to defy the physical odds it faced. The spacecraft carrying the planetary all-terrain, robotic vehicle — loaded with 17 high-tech cameras, and 10 scientific instruments (including a laser-firing rock analyzer) — had to traverse a 352-million-mile journey from Earth to Mars. It also had to survive a breathtaking plummet through the wispy thin Martian atmosphere, and decelerate from 13,200 mph to 1.7 mph in just seven minutes to prevent crashing the $2.5-billion machinery into the dusty red planet. NASA launched Curiosity on Nov. 26, 2011. It landed at 1:32 a.m. Monday, nearly eight months later.
Safely.
And, within one minute of the NASA team’s estimates set almost a year ago.
Utterly amazing. Talk about precision.
President Obama aptly called it “an unprecedented feat of technology.” And that was just the journey. As Curiosity gradually tests and activates its computers and mechanisms, the rover will begin probing a sister planet in groundbreaking fashion. Its photography should provide panoramic, color images of Mars’ desert-like landscape, and vast mountains and craters. As a laboratory on six wheels, Curiosity also will analyze rocks and soil on the spot, and transmit its findings back to Earth, helping scientists determine whether life forms as tiny as microbes could have existed there. The nuclear-powered craft is expected to function for at least two years.
Imagine if key members of the NASA team, during the mission, fought against its success. Instead of cooperating once the pre-flight arguments had been waged and settled, what if factions of the aeronautical agency’s talent pool created obstacles to the plan? Such dysfunction and gridlock would have doomed Curiosity’s pinpoint landing and the execution of its cutting-edge experiments.
Fortunately, that’s not what happened.
The world is witnessing a sparkling example of American ingenuity, guts and, yes, teamwork in that Mars voyager. From China to Canada, and Mexico to Mozambique, earthlings are seeing that America can accomplish the formerly impossible. Curiosity also should serve as a reminder to U.S. citizens that the domestic hurdles we face can be surmounted, if our leaders will ever let the dust settle enough on pressing issues to then work toward solutions.
It is possible. If we can put a man on the moon, or a rover on Mars, America can fix its problems.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: When America functions as a team, wondrous things occur
Mars rover success reminds us of what we’re capable of
- Editorials
-
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: MVC tourney an event worth having
It’s been a long time since the Missouri Valley Conference chose Indiana State University to host its post-season baseball tournament, but Terre Haute had never been more prepared for an event such as this.
-
EDITORIAL: Cleaning up voter rolls
It’s not a lot of money in the big scheme of things, but the $2 million designated in the recent session of the General Assembly will begin the messy but necessary process of cleaning up Indiana’s voter registration rolls.
-
EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
-
EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
-
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
-
EDITORIAL: Memo to U.S.A.: You can ‘SPPRAK’ just as we do in Vigo County
Our kids, truly, are ‘Making a Difference’
-
Some words in praise of boring government — Indiana’s
A conservative Republican governor has super majorities in both branches of the legislature. One might suspect such one-party government leads to major changes in public policy. This did not happen in 2013 in Indiana.
-
EDITORIAL: Doc’s prescient prescription
Viewed through a 2013 prism, Doc Bowen’s response to the AIDS epidemic looks merely prudent, routine.
-
EDITORIAL: Education remains worth the cost
Within the next few weeks, each of the local colleges will have conducted graduation ceremonies. A few days later, a different Class of 2013 will don caps and gowns for commencement — the seniors at five Vigo County high schools. It is still a smart, worthy aspiration for those high school grads to replicate the achievement of those college students by earning a higher-education degree.
-
EDITORIAL: Good news for downtown
For decades, it seems, downtown Terre Haute has been in the throes of change
-
EDITORIAL: Overall, state budget step in the right direction
For average Hoosiers uninterested in political point-scoring, the budget crafted by the Indiana Legislature inspires only muted, if any, fanfare.
-
EDITORIAL: The lessons of organ donation
The range of emotion surrounding life-saving transplantation of a vital organ is extreme. It is the ultimate “good news-bad news” scenario.
-
READERS’ FORUM: April 26, 2013
• Pence’s tax cuts benefit wealthiest
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
This does not qualify as a surprise in any way. But the Wabash Valley’s response to widespread flooding of recent days has been nothing short of impressive, even inspirational.
-
EDITORIAL: Still waiting for the jobs reward
The forces in control of Indiana government for most of the past decade need to show some results to Hoosiers in one primary category.
Good-paying jobs. -
MARK BENNETT: Littered with irony: Why do people callously discard their trash, and who are they?
Though they aren’t acknowledged by the U.S. Census Bureau, there are basically two demographic groups of people … Those who would dump their old toilet on the banks of the Wabash River or a rural roadside. And those who wouldn’t.
-
EDITORIAL: Doing the dirty work to clean up tossed trash
A first-of-its-kind, coast-to-coast project to remove litter from U.S. roadsides brought the Pick Up America crew through the Wabash Valley two years ago.
-
EDITORIAL: Keep school security a local issue
The decision to provide armed security inside a schoolhouse should be made locally.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
Indiana’s parks need your help.
-
EDITORIAL: The return of terror
Emotions today remain strong and raw in wake of Monday’s terror bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
-
EDITORIAL: A solution to distracted driving … stop it … now
You’ve got to stop. You know you do it. It’s a miracle you haven’t caused a tragedy already.
-
EDITORIAL: ‘Women of Influence’: 2013 selectees have given much to their communities
For the second year, United Way of the Wabash Valley has teamed up with local sponsors to select and honor a group of women who have made outstanding contributions to their communities, professions and families.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: A new honor for our veterans
A commendation goes out today to state Rep. Clyde Kersey, a Terre Haute Democrat who led the charge this week in the Indiana House of Representatives to pay tribute to the nation’s Purple Heart recipients.
-
EDITORIAL: Shifting view on marriage
One could argue, as many have, that Sen. Joe Donnelly did the right thing last week when he dropped his support of government-sanctioned opposition to same-sex marriage. It wasn’t a radical move, considering most Democrats have now made the switch.
-
MAX JONES: The American Newspaper: Changing? Yes. Dying? No way!
It happened again this past January when all those “looking at the year ahead” stories started popping up on Internet “news” websites and broadcast “news” programs. Under a provocative headline reading something like “Five industries/businesses doomed to tank in the coming year,” there it was, a prediction based on an unsubstantiated “expert” analysis that the newspaper industry will continue in 2013 to suffer its slide into oblivion.
-
EDITORIAL: A chance to change our bad cultural habits
The sight of diligent, eager young people dragging trash out of the Wabash River wetlands is both inspiring and sad.
-
EDITORIAL: Maintaining high standards
Standards
It’s the raging buzzword in education circles these days. Everyone insists that higher standards must be met. Anything less is, doggone it, unacceptable. -
Noteworthy in the news
-
EDITORIAL: Crack down on dumpers
There is a reason it’s called “illegal” dumping. It’s against the law. And there is a very good reason illegal dumping is against the law.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: MVC tourney an event worth having
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Today in History May 23
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Today in History May 22
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
