Mars Rovers Falter, Instruments Failing
Various instruments on NASA Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit are STARTING TO FAIL. Engineers have put Opportunity on hold, while they figure out how to deal with failing rock-grinding tool and broken infrared spectrometer. Spirit's right-front wheel is dead, and the rover drags it around. Other problems plague the rovers, but at post time they're still functioning -- barely. The rovers were designed to operate for just three months, but have been working now for nearly four years.
7:27 AM * PERMALINK * 2 comments
Comments:
Although this headline sounds a bit negative, I'm sure that's not your intension. These rovers have been an amazing success story for NASA. One of their very biggest. The fact that they have operated so long beyond their planed life cycle is a testimonial to the great engineering that went into them, and great management (yes, NASA management) of them since being put into operation. I'd love to understand more behind what really made this such an amazing success...
There's no question that these rovers have been successful beyond anyone's expectations.
From what I've read, NASA expected the solar panels to be hobbled by dust. It turns out that Marian winds blow all the dust off from time to time -- a happy surprise.
Mike Elgan
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