DailyTech - NASA Mars Rovers Continue to Impress

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Blog: Science NASA Mars Rovers Continue to Impress
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - September 22, 2007 2:59 PM

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8 comment(s) - last by LogicallyGeniu.. on Sep 24 at 10:57 AM

Mawrth Vallis, Mars (Source: NASA)

Is there anything the NASA Mars Rovers can't do?

Am I the only one who is happy to know the NASA Mars Rovers are once again doing what they do best? Both rovers are actively gathering scientific data to help offer researchers on Earth acquire crucial material for future missions to the Red Planet.

After large dust storms halted the NASA Mars Rovers for more than six weeks, I began to doubt if the mission could continue, especially with some rumors that NASA would just let the rovers fade into space history. The storms finally lifted, allowing NASA to let the vehicles continue on limited movement.

"Weather and power conditions continue to improve, although very slowly for both rovers," said John Callas, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory project manager, right after the rovers were able to continue their work.

Recently, NASA reported on its web site that Opportunity is in the crater "as the start of a multi-week investigation on the big bowl's inner slope." The first goal of the mission is a small piece of exposed rock researchers hope will offer a glimpse of any interaction "between the Martian atmopshere and surface from millions of years ago."

Rover Opportunity - scheduled to study the deep Victoria Crater - is carefully exploring the outer rims of Victoria Crater.

Originally expected to be the final resting place of the Opportunity, NASA indicates they have several different routes the rover can hopefully use to get out of the crater.

Mars Rover Spirit is still cruising around the Red Planet's Home Plate.

I don't honestly know how much life the rovers have left, but let's just hope that they can continue to surprise everyone back on Earth.

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Martian Exploration Rover (3.5e)

By PrimarchLion on 9/23/2007 12:52:36 AM , Rating: 6

Large Construct
Hit Dice: 2d10+80(90 hp)
Initiative: -16
Speed: 1
Armor Class: 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/+5
Attack: Slam +0 melee (1d8+10 hp)
Full Attack: Slam +0 melee (1d8+10 hp)
Space/Reach: 10 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Rock abrasion tool -5 (2d6+10 hp)
Special Qualities: Construct traits, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +8, Ref -6, Will -4
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 6, Con -, Int -, Wis 6, Cha 6
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: Daylight only
Organization: Solitary or pair
Lifespan: Unknown, maybe immortal
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -

RE: Martian Exploration Rover (3.5e)

By Dianoda on 9/23/2007 4:36:25 AM , Rating: 2

You Sir, have perhaps too much time....

Parent

RE: Martian Exploration Rover (3.5e)

By Ringold on 9/23/2007 12:12:42 PM , Rating: 2

I vote 6!

That was awesome.

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RE: Martian Exploration Rover (3.5e)

By KristopherKubicki

(blog) on 9/23/2007 5:26:31 PM , Rating: 2

Truely epic post. Enjoy your gold star :)

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Go!

By dude on 9/23/2007 1:07:35 AM , Rating: 2

I hope they do last alot longer than they have, which is more than their supposed usable life!

I still think that the idea of them putting one in the crater a bad idea. Why not have it explore for a bit more on the flat surface before deciding to drop it into an unknown pit? They can study more of the rock debris from the impact around the perimeter area.

RE: Go!

By ajfink on 9/23/2007 1:22:02 PM , Rating: 3

You can tell a lot about the geologic history of a planet's crust from the exposed rocks of impact craters. It's like peeling everything open and looking back.

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Future

By Murst on 9/24/2007 12:26:55 AM , Rating: 3

Hopefully successes like these will lead to a lot more cash being funneled to NASA. There's so many things about our solar system that we just do not know. Hopefully the next mission will be equipped to scan soil much better than the rovers - if that happens, I think we'll find signs of life on another planet or moon in our solar system.