This collection of entries is from January 03, 2004.
I was watching the TV feed from JPL. I'm not sure if Europe's Beagle 2 had this kind of a setup, but Spirit broadcasted a series of tones throughout the entire entry and decent phase, each signal told of a specific event - atmosphere entry, G's force accelerations, parachute deployment, heat shield separation, radar lock and retro-rocket firing. It was really cool hearing everything tick off. Then a short signal saying that the craft started bouncing on the surface (if you know anything about the mission or the prior Pathfinder mission, you know that this is normal, bouncing across the Martian landscape surrounded by airbags).
Everyone knew that it survived the entry. Now it was just a matter of waiting for a signal after it was all settled.
Then it came - the signal that the craft actually made it. The place went nuts. I can't wait to see the first pictures!!!
I may have spoke a little too soon yesterday. The spam is back again, though it might be slightly less than "normal". I keep forgetting that the bastards work during the week and Spam on weekends. Those who are unemployed (or who are using Spam mailing as there only source of income) work 7 days a week.
Bloody rat bastards...