What is the history behind having peanuts in mission control during critical missions?
The InSight mission livestream showed a jar of peanuts with what appears to be the MarCO logo.
Why is was this a significant shot in the livestream? Is there history behind this?
mars insight jpl
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
add a comment |
The InSight mission livestream showed a jar of peanuts with what appears to be the MarCO logo.
Why is was this a significant shot in the livestream? Is there history behind this?
mars insight jpl
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
1
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
1
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53
add a comment |
The InSight mission livestream showed a jar of peanuts with what appears to be the MarCO logo.
Why is was this a significant shot in the livestream? Is there history behind this?
mars insight jpl
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
The InSight mission livestream showed a jar of peanuts with what appears to be the MarCO logo.
Why is was this a significant shot in the livestream? Is there history behind this?
mars insight jpl
mars insight jpl
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
edited Nov 26 at 20:46
Machavity
2,3131737
2,3131737
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
asked Nov 26 at 20:17
shane
2371210
2371210
1
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
1
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53
add a comment |
1
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
1
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53
1
1
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
1
1
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
It turns out this goes way back to the 1960s. Landing on a celestial body isn't easy; JPL had suffered a series of failures during the Ranger missions, some during launch and others further on in each mission. For Ranger 7, someone on the team (credit has been given to both Dick Wallace and Harrison Schurmeier) passed out peanuts to calm people's nerves . . . and the landing was successful. Since then, it's become a tradition at JPL.
I've confirmed that peanuts have been consumed on the following missions (this is only a partial list, in all likelihood):
Ranger 7, Ranger 8 and Ranger 9[1]
Cassini[1]
- InSight
Curiosity[2]
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission[3]
Mariner[4]
Viking[5]
Pathfinder (possibly)[5]
Spirit[6]
. . . and likely many more.
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
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oldest
votes
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oldest
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active
oldest
votes
It turns out this goes way back to the 1960s. Landing on a celestial body isn't easy; JPL had suffered a series of failures during the Ranger missions, some during launch and others further on in each mission. For Ranger 7, someone on the team (credit has been given to both Dick Wallace and Harrison Schurmeier) passed out peanuts to calm people's nerves . . . and the landing was successful. Since then, it's become a tradition at JPL.
I've confirmed that peanuts have been consumed on the following missions (this is only a partial list, in all likelihood):
Ranger 7, Ranger 8 and Ranger 9[1]
Cassini[1]
- InSight
Curiosity[2]
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission[3]
Mariner[4]
Viking[5]
Pathfinder (possibly)[5]
Spirit[6]
. . . and likely many more.
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
add a comment |
It turns out this goes way back to the 1960s. Landing on a celestial body isn't easy; JPL had suffered a series of failures during the Ranger missions, some during launch and others further on in each mission. For Ranger 7, someone on the team (credit has been given to both Dick Wallace and Harrison Schurmeier) passed out peanuts to calm people's nerves . . . and the landing was successful. Since then, it's become a tradition at JPL.
I've confirmed that peanuts have been consumed on the following missions (this is only a partial list, in all likelihood):
Ranger 7, Ranger 8 and Ranger 9[1]
Cassini[1]
- InSight
Curiosity[2]
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission[3]
Mariner[4]
Viking[5]
Pathfinder (possibly)[5]
Spirit[6]
. . . and likely many more.
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
add a comment |
It turns out this goes way back to the 1960s. Landing on a celestial body isn't easy; JPL had suffered a series of failures during the Ranger missions, some during launch and others further on in each mission. For Ranger 7, someone on the team (credit has been given to both Dick Wallace and Harrison Schurmeier) passed out peanuts to calm people's nerves . . . and the landing was successful. Since then, it's become a tradition at JPL.
I've confirmed that peanuts have been consumed on the following missions (this is only a partial list, in all likelihood):
Ranger 7, Ranger 8 and Ranger 9[1]
Cassini[1]
- InSight
Curiosity[2]
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission[3]
Mariner[4]
Viking[5]
Pathfinder (possibly)[5]
Spirit[6]
. . . and likely many more.
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
It turns out this goes way back to the 1960s. Landing on a celestial body isn't easy; JPL had suffered a series of failures during the Ranger missions, some during launch and others further on in each mission. For Ranger 7, someone on the team (credit has been given to both Dick Wallace and Harrison Schurmeier) passed out peanuts to calm people's nerves . . . and the landing was successful. Since then, it's become a tradition at JPL.
I've confirmed that peanuts have been consumed on the following missions (this is only a partial list, in all likelihood):
Ranger 7, Ranger 8 and Ranger 9[1]
Cassini[1]
- InSight
Curiosity[2]
- India's Mars Orbiter Mission[3]
Mariner[4]
Viking[5]
Pathfinder (possibly)[5]
Spirit[6]
. . . and likely many more.
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
edited Nov 26 at 20:49
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
answered Nov 26 at 20:42
HDE 226868
2,48911137
2,48911137
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
add a comment |
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
1
1
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
Can this be considered superstitious?
– karthikeyan
Nov 27 at 2:13
1
1
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
Yes, it can. So?
– Mark Adler
Nov 28 at 2:38
add a comment |
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1
Welcome to Space! They did briefly explain the peanut tradition during the coverage, but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can give a very detailed explanation!
– Jack
Nov 26 at 20:24
1
I could swear someone here (Mark Adler?) already posted about this recently, but I can't find it.
– Dr Sheldon
Nov 26 at 20:37
@HDE226868 Understood. I have used all my upvotes for today so I will give you one tomorrow. I will take a look at the incoming responses as well. Thank you for your insight.
– shane
Nov 26 at 20:53