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If you had humans on Mars, they would tramp all over Hell's half acre in no time. On the other hand, it would cost a couple hundred $ billion to put together the mission.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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It really is incredible that the two rovers keep going and still provide new and exciting discoveries, as well as further experience for the rover teams to operate them under the challenging conditions that Mars has to offer.
I still check the Rover Mission site frequently to see some of the new images and keep up to date with the rovers' progress. It's amazing to see how the rover teams have continuously managed to overcome most if not all of the problems and obstacles, often in very surprising and creative ways. They always make the best with what they have, which I find very interesting to follow.
They had Spirit start driving in reverse to solve the problem of one of the front wheels getting jammed, they tried to park at a sloped angle when possible during the Martian winter to optimize power generation from the solar panels. They've dug little trenches by blocking 4 or 5 of the wheels to get deeper into the soil and so on. And I'm sure the mission team will manage to get Opportunity out of the dune also.
It's funny, when you follow how they're doing on a regular basis, after a while you get the feeling you have two distant relatives, little half-nephews perhaps, working away on Mars and sending home pictures for all the family to see.
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When Spirit landed and transmitted the first detailed panorama of it's surroundings, the Columbia hills were seen at a distance of about a mile. I've heard scientists on the team dreaming about Spirit surviving long enough to maybe start moving towards those hills and get a better view of them before dying.Originally posted by DeathByTheSword
ok i know they are slow and essently babies but damn in 17 month not more then 3.5 km...that is just a little bit sad
Today Spirit is busy climbing these hills.
IIRC the criterion for mission success was 90 days and 400 meters of driving, while the current odometer shows ~5000 meters. This is even more impressive that the length of the mission."Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master" - Commissioner Pravin Lal.Comment
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as an interesting thought, it takes a spacecraft say one year to get to mars right? If we were to send a manned/womaned mission to the red planet, how would you stop the crew from killing each other out of boredom on the trip? 12 months with one or two other people and no 'time out corner' urgh....Originally posted by DanS
If you had humans on Mars, they would tramp all over Hell's half acre in no time. On the other hand, it would cost a couple hundred $ billion to put together the mission."the bigger the smile, the sharper the knife"
"Every now and again, declare peace. it confuses the hell out of your enemies."Comment
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Rock'em, Sock'em Robots?Comment
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Originally posted by Winston
It's funny, when you follow how they're doing on a regular basis, after a while you get the feeling you have two distant relatives, little half-nephews perhaps, working away on Mars and sending home pictures for all the family to see.
you worry me
A lot of Republicans are not racist, but a lot of racists are Republican.Comment
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We're sending a nuclear powered SUV next.No, I did not steal that from somebody on Something Awful.Comment
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We should have those guys design the next shuttle.Originally posted by chegitz guevara
They were designed to only last 90 days, at least officially. We definately got our money's worth.Comment
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nuclear SUV and designing new shuttle
Bunnies!
Welcome to the DBTSverse!
God, Allah, boedha, siva, the stars, tealeaves and the palm of you hand. If you are so desperately looking for something to believe in GO FIND A MIRROR
'Space05us is just a stupid nice guy' - Space05usComment
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The Mars Rovers are one of the best stories of the past 5 years.
USA at it's best.
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution. - Abraham LincolnComment
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it has been freed from the sand duneComment
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I bet they just tell people that so it looks like NASA is doing much better than expected.Originally posted by chegitz guevara
They were designed to only last 90 days, at least officially. We definately got our money's worth.Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012
When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - RahComment
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Hoooooray!Originally posted by Ted Striker
USA at it's best.
Now if we can just get NASA to build that solar-powered plane for Venus. It'd be marvelous! Thick atmosphere and slow (117-earthday day) makes for good flying high over the clouds of sulphuric acid. It could fly forever, and the radar imaging would be magficient!
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