Darn dust storm!!!
After 3 years (in spite of their 3-month warranty), the two Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are still going. I have to say that they are my favorite non-crewed space mission going right now, probably because those little guys are so tough! (OK, and the team behind them is pretty darn terrific, too!)
The huge dust storm on Mars has quieted the rovers right now, especially Opportunity, who is poised to delve into a deep crater (Victoria Crater). At first, the winds from the storm were good, blowing away dust that had accumulated on the solar panels. Now the dust is partially blocking the sunlight, making the solar panels basically useless. So what's a little rover to do? Why, conserve battery power and wait until the storm passes.
So, does anyone want to weigh in on any of the Mars programs going on right now???
MER - 2007 and counting
Moderator: Vincent
MER - 2007 and counting
Last edited by empress on Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1986-current: Enterprise Team
"I am the Commander of this ship, and I am responsible for my crew. And I say we're doing whatever we have to, to keep them all alive." - My one-time refusal to Mission Control, thus earning me my call-sign.
"I am the Commander of this ship, and I am responsible for my crew. And I say we're doing whatever we have to, to keep them all alive." - My one-time refusal to Mission Control, thus earning me my call-sign.
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- HabForum Junkie
- Posts: 2125
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:07 pm
- Location: Canada
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- HabForum Junkie
- Posts: 2125
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:07 pm
- Location: Canada
I got to see the test model when I was at JPL a while back. Marvellous robots indeed!
Since I cannot link to photos in the Hab1 Photo Portal, here are the links:
The "Mars Yard":
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4162
MER Rover Lander:
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4165
MER Rover:
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4168
Pathfinder: (so tiny compared to MER!)
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4171
Since I cannot link to photos in the Hab1 Photo Portal, here are the links:
The "Mars Yard":
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4162
MER Rover Lander:
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4165
MER Rover:
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4168
Pathfinder: (so tiny compared to MER!)
http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4171
- Jennifer -
Youth ASA 6-Day 1998 1999
Adult ASA 8-Day 2004; Alumni 2007, CSC 2013, 2015, 2017
Youth ASA 6-Day 1998 1999
Adult ASA 8-Day 2004; Alumni 2007, CSC 2013, 2015, 2017