Post by Wes on Jan 4, 2010 12:23:35 GMT 10
NASA'S Mars rover Spirit may be a rover no more after the upcoming Martian winter.
It is bogged in loose sand and its solar panels may not be able to capture enough sunlight to drive it out of its current position, the US space agency said today.
"Unless the tilt can be improved or luck with winds affects the gradual build-up of dust on the solar panels, the amount of sunshine available will continue to decline until May 2010.
"During May, or perhaps earlier, Spirit may not have enough power to remain in operation," NASA said.
Spirit has been bogged in loose sand for nine months and with one, and sometimes two, of its six wheels not working it was unexpected to be able to move.
Its position in the southern hemisphere of Mars, where it is autumn, is unfavourable because the winter sun crosses low in the northern sky, NASA said.
But even if it can't be moved all may not be not lost.
"Spirit could continue significant research right where it is," said Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis.
"We can study the interior of Mars, monitor the weather and continue examining the interesting deposits uncovered by Spirit's wheels."
Spirit had already exceeded expectations, NASA said.
It landed on the Red Planet on January 3, 2004, followed by its twin rover, Opportunity, on January 24.
"The rovers began missions intended to last for three months but which have lasted six Earth years, or 3.2 Mars years," NASA said.
"During this time, Spirit has found evidence of a steamy and violent environment on ancient Mars that was quite different from the wet and acidic past documented by Opportunity, which has been operating successfully as it explores halfway around the planet."
www.news.com.au/technology/stuck-spirit-may-rove-mars-no-more/story-e6frfro0-1225815181310?from=news+newsletter_rss
It is bogged in loose sand and its solar panels may not be able to capture enough sunlight to drive it out of its current position, the US space agency said today.
"Unless the tilt can be improved or luck with winds affects the gradual build-up of dust on the solar panels, the amount of sunshine available will continue to decline until May 2010.
"During May, or perhaps earlier, Spirit may not have enough power to remain in operation," NASA said.
Spirit has been bogged in loose sand for nine months and with one, and sometimes two, of its six wheels not working it was unexpected to be able to move.
Its position in the southern hemisphere of Mars, where it is autumn, is unfavourable because the winter sun crosses low in the northern sky, NASA said.
But even if it can't be moved all may not be not lost.
"Spirit could continue significant research right where it is," said Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis.
"We can study the interior of Mars, monitor the weather and continue examining the interesting deposits uncovered by Spirit's wheels."
Spirit had already exceeded expectations, NASA said.
It landed on the Red Planet on January 3, 2004, followed by its twin rover, Opportunity, on January 24.
"The rovers began missions intended to last for three months but which have lasted six Earth years, or 3.2 Mars years," NASA said.
"During this time, Spirit has found evidence of a steamy and violent environment on ancient Mars that was quite different from the wet and acidic past documented by Opportunity, which has been operating successfully as it explores halfway around the planet."
www.news.com.au/technology/stuck-spirit-may-rove-mars-no-more/story-e6frfro0-1225815181310?from=news+newsletter_rss