The Ongoing Mars Explorer Thread (1 Viewer)

[Peter Kline]

FROM NASA/JPL:



3D Image of Opportunity looking back at lander.

 

[Edwin-S]

That second blow up on the previous page. What's Sebastion doing on Mars. Pretty hard singing "Under the Sea" in that environment. Maybe he's singing "Kiss the Martian."

 

[Peter Kline]

SPIRIT MAKES PARENTS PROUD. PASSES DDS EXAM!

 

[Peter Kline]

Complete articlehere.

 

[John Nelson]

Spirit has taken a very cool color photograph with its panoramic camera from the lip of the Bonneville Crater. The photo is available in small [66kb], medium [785kb] and large forms [26.4MB] The medium photo gives a good resolution while still providing a sense of dramatic sweep within the confines of the average computer monitor (the large photo is so big you can't really get a good feel for the dramatic sweep of this shot).

Medium resolution photo:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...A071R1_br2.jpg

Mars Rover website:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

P.S. I still REALLY want to get to the top of those East Hills and get a panoramic shot of the rolling crater-pocked plains below!

 

[Peter Kline]

Do you need somebody to go with you? Give me a call, I'd like to go also.

P.S. The rovers continue to perform magnificently. Lots of bang for the buck I'd say. And all that money was spent right here on earth.

 

[John Nelson]

Yay, we're headin' for the hills!
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/m...ueberries.html

Pack the sandwiches, Pete. I'll bring the liquid refreshment and some supplemental O2 for good measure. Also, I hear it gets cold and windy on those hilltops, so be sure to bring a sweater or something else to keep you warm.
Hmmmm, did I turn the stove off before I left....

 

[BrianShort]

According to Space.com NASA is set to make another "major" discovery from the Opportunity rover on Tuesday at 2pm EST. I'm guessing they have determined whether the water at the landing site was in the form of a lake, or was groundwater.

Also, Opportunity tried and failed to climb out of the crater, so NASA plans on trying a different direction where it won't slip as much.

Brian

 

[John Nelson]

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2004
2325 GMT (6:25 p.m. EST)
Opportunity successfully emerged from the crater today, one martian-day later than planned after the rover experienced wheel slippage in the sandy soil.

Controllers sent the rover driving along the crater rim instead of a more direct path straight out, officials said.

The crater, dubbed "Eagle Crater," is approximately 22 meters (72 feet) in diameter.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/status.html

 

[BrianShort]

Salty Sea Covered Part of Mars: 'Excellent' Site to Search for Past Life



Rest of article

 

[CharlesD]

According to this BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3872975.stm they are preparing for the possibility that the Rovers may last into next year! Once again congrats to all involved with the MERs at JPL & NASA! the mission has been unbelievably successful.

 

[Kirk Gunn]

Sounds like a no-brainer to me... how much could the incremental daily costs be ?

Even though the long-term prospects of it just "staying alive and remote sensing the sky and ground" don't sound as glamorous as it's past performance, it should be worthwhile.

 

[Bob Graz]

I would think something could also be learned by taking the rovers to the point of failure, that would help in the design of future rovers. It doesn't get the press it did in the beginning of the mission, but it's been a fantastic success.

 

[Kirk Gunn]

The Rover "Opportunity" has freed itself from the sand dune it was stuck in for the past month !

http://space.com/missionlaunches/opp...ee_050604.html