mars rovers
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,982
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater, Fl
mars rovers
http://www.livescience.com/space/sci...niversary.html
Two robots the size of golf carts were given 90 days to squeeze as much science as possible from the barren, dust-swept terrain of Mars. After that, scientists expected nothing more from them than death.
Nearly four years after their warranties expired, however, the Mars Explorations Rovers (MERs) "Spirit" and "Opportunity" continue to play productively in the red dirt.
in my 30 years of existence this is the most remarkable story regarding space to me. i remember years ago waitingto see if they survived the flight, and then after landing in huge airbags, bouncing about a mile or so, before coming to rest.
only a 90 day shelf life and 1 stuck wheel there still rocking on 4 years later
Two robots the size of golf carts were given 90 days to squeeze as much science as possible from the barren, dust-swept terrain of Mars. After that, scientists expected nothing more from them than death.
Nearly four years after their warranties expired, however, the Mars Explorations Rovers (MERs) "Spirit" and "Opportunity" continue to play productively in the red dirt.
in my 30 years of existence this is the most remarkable story regarding space to me. i remember years ago waitingto see if they survived the flight, and then after landing in huge airbags, bouncing about a mile or so, before coming to rest.
only a 90 day shelf life and 1 stuck wheel there still rocking on 4 years later
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,982
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater, Fl
Originally Posted by SteveBricks
Will be cool if the 25% chance of impact from those asteroids pays off and the rovers are near.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 20
There is only one explanation on their survival, it has to be raining on Mars to wash the dust off the solar cells as there is no feature to wipe them clean. Also if it was a dry dust with no way to disperse it would have ground up the rotating parts a long ago time ago. NASA had problems with the lunar rovers and the dry dust on the moon.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 3
From: Langhorne, PA
The only reason those things are working is because the klingons fixed the rovers when they crash-landed. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been any data sent from mars.
I have been hearing this story on and off lately...It is truly one of NASA's greatest achievements.
I have been hearing this story on and off lately...It is truly one of NASA's greatest achievements.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by Aftrmidnite
There is only one explanation on their survival, it has to be raining on Mars to wash the dust off the solar cells as there is no feature to wipe them clean. Also if it was a dry dust with no way to disperse it would have ground up the rotating parts a long ago time ago. NASA had problems with the lunar rovers and the dry dust on the moon.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Greywolf
General NON-Automotive Conversation
54
Aug 15, 2005 12:46 AM
