On 26 November 2011, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, I gathered with a group of like minded space ‘nerds’ as a part of the CSIRO Tweetup weekend at the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC), to watch the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch event.  Eventually, after what seemed like a very long countdown, an Atlas V rocket, with the MSL stowed safely, blasted its way into space, and commenced its long journey to Mars. We marvelled at the technology, shed a few tears, had a few celebratory drinks and headed back to our respective homes to join the real world.

CSIROTweetup Nov 2011  (Image Credit: Martin Ollman)

Forward 8 months and many of the same like minded space ‘nerds’ gathered at the CDSCC for their next space adventure. This time we were all there to watch the MSL land safely after it’s long journey. Or at least we hoped it would land safely.  I took the day off work, packed the compulsory phones (a virtually pointless activity considering the CDSCC is strictly a radio quiet area), iPad, and camera.  After a short drive we arrived at the complex. Early. A full 5 hours before the scheduled landing time.  I’d waited 8 months for this event, and I wasn’t going to miss a moment!

CDSCC 70m Dish (DSS-43)

We weren’t the first to arrive at the centre. By the time we got there the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation), who manage the CDSCC on behalf of NASA, had already started their information sessions and presentations. Glen Nagle, the Education and Outreach Manager and his staff organised a series of presentations which kept the crowd engaged whilst we waited for the clock to tick down to 15:31 hours.  Glen shared a few of his own stories about being a ‘space nerd’ and chasing down Neil Armstrong’s autograph. A story worth hearing if you ever get the chance to visit the CDSCC.

After the presentations and MSL updates we wondered around the visitors centre and caught up with the many lovely CSIRO Tweetup Alumni who were able to return for the event.  Note an image of the CDSCC Tracking Schedule from the Visitors Centre.

CDSCC Schedule (Image Credit: @crystalsinger)

By the time I looked around at 14:30 hours the visitors centre was packed full of space enthusiasts (and in a few cases a less enthusiastic spouse and/or child). It was reassuring to see so many others had joined us to see one of the most significant, and complicated landings on Mars (about 400 according to the CDSCC).  By 15:00 hours the mood changed from excited and jovial, to more sombre and anxious as the audience watched the mission updates from NASA. People began to settle in their seats and their eyes were trained on Glen and the large screen at the front of the centre.

On the screen at the front of the rooms was an animation of the MSL heading towards Mars, created by the ‘Eyes on the Solar System’ software. This program takes real time telemetry from a NASA mission and creates a realistic representation on the screen of the mission, in this case, MSL approaching the red planet.  In combination with NASA TV, this technology has the potential to have a huge impact on how we watch future missions and how we (space enthusiasts and outreach managers) will get the public to engage with space events.  Being able to ‘watch’ the descent was clearly a crowd pleaser, as the images on the screen counted down the km to landing and showed a small MSL very quickly approach an increasingly massive Mars.

CDSCC Crowd (Image credit: @crystalsinger)

As the clock slowly approached 15:30 Glen was calling out each step of the process, everyone was quiet, and every eye was trained on the screen.

Of course we knew that by then the MSL had landed. Due to the distance between Earth and Mars and the time taken for the radio signals to arrive at Earth the MSL had been on the surface of Mars for 7 minutes before we received the re-entry signal.  Nonetheless, we waited faithfully for every signal from MSL, parachute deployed, heat shield separation, back shell separation, descent stage rocket thrusters kicked in, sky crane deployed the rover (Curiosity), Curiosity touchdown, descent stage fly away.  Each stage was greeted with gentle applause and a few murmors, no one willing to celebrate until the rover was confirmed safely on the ground.  The tension was palpable. We all knew that this was one of the most complicated missions NASA have embarked on, and we all knew that in the end one tiny technical issue or badly timed gust of martian wind could throw the mission into disarray or even end it all together.  When Curiosity touched down and it was finally confirmed the crowd cheered, and broke into rapturous (and I suggest somewhat relieved) applause.

To celebrate the successful landing we shared an MSL themed cake with the crowd! (Baked and decorated by myself @astrochicky and @crystalsinger – just because we thought it would be fun!).

MSL Cake

Thanks to the CDSCC CSIRO team who looked after us and made the event successful, and so accessible to the public.  Kudos to Glen and Vanessa (@astro0_umsf and @nessyhill) who did a fantastic job – and were run off their feet for most of the day. It really was wonderful to be able to ‘watch’ the landing from the very place that was tracking and recieving signals from the event. It made the whole experience that much more ‘real’ knowing that CDSCC staff a short walk from our seats were working hard along side their colleagues in NASA and JPL to track and bring us the signal as it happened.

And after all the action died down at the CDSCC a few of the more dedicated space nerds ended up at the pub for dinner and much fun was had by all.

Want to know more about the MSL?  Here’s the NASA/JPL site with all the info and latest images from curiosity, and here’s the NASA MSL Mission page. If you’re into the Twitterz then try following the Mars Rover at @marscuriosity!