Can Spirit be Freed?

Stargate

November 12, 2009: On Monday, NASA will begin transmitting commands to its Mars exploration rover Spirit as part of an escape plan to free the venerable robot from its Martian sand trap.

"This is going to be a lengthy process, and there's a high probability attempts to free Spirit will not be successful," cautions Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Spirit has been lodged at a site scientists call "Troy" since April 23, 2009. Spirit was driving backward and dragging its inoperable right front wheel when the rover's other wheels broke through a crust on the surface that was covering a slippery sand underneath. After a few drive attempts to get Spirit out, the rover began sinking deeper in the sand trap. Driving was suspended to allow time for tests and reviews of possible escape strategies.

Data show Spirit is straddling the edge of a 26-foot-wide crater that had been filled long ago with sulfate-bearing sands produced in a hot water or steam environment ............

Full story here

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/12nov_freespirit.htm

Stargate

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

November 12, 2009: On Monday, NASA will begin transmitting commands to its Mars exploration rover Spirit as part of an escape plan to free the venerable robot from its Martian sand trap.

"This is going to be a lengthy process, and there's a high probability attempts to free Spirit will not be successful," cautions Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Spirit has been lodged at a site scientists call "Troy" since April 23, 2009. Spirit was driving backward and dragging its inoperable right front wheel when the rover's other wheels broke through a crust on the surface that was covering a slippery sand underneath. After a few drive attempts to get Spirit out, the rover began sinking deeper in the sand trap. Driving was suspended to allow time for tests and reviews of possible escape strategies.

Data show Spirit is straddling the edge of a 26-foot-wide crater that had been filled long ago with sulfate-bearing sands produced in a hot water or steam environment ............

Full story here

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/12nov_freespirit.htm

Stargate

I hope they can free it. Spirit and her sister Opportunity have been providing great data and images from the surface of Mars for nearly 6 years now.

Stargate

Hiya Beeker

Oh so true Beeker , Spirit and Opportunity are really amazing when you think they were given what ? , 3 months tops !!

So near and yet so far away from us here on earth , what we all wouldnt give to just give her a little light " push " to get her going again , fingers crossed eh Beeker

On a side note , was it you i seen recently asking bout FTA sky for your folks , sorry if im wrong on that ( if it was , hope you got it sorted ) :pac:

Regards
Stargate

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

Hiya Beeker

Oh so true Beeker , Spirit and Opportunity are really amazing when you think they were given what ? , 3 months tops !!

So near and yet so far away from us here on earth , what we all wouldnt give to just give her a little light " push " to get her going again , fingers crossed eh Beeker

On a side note , was it you i seen recently asking bout FTA sky for your folks , sorry if im wrong on that ( if it was , hope you got it sorted ) :pac:

Regards
Stargate

How are things in the Peoples Republic of Cork Stargate?
Yeah I was asking about SKY v NTL for the folks. I have SKY myself but they have the basic NTL system. They decided on the NTL digital package in the end.

Stargate

Beeker wrote: »

How are things in the Peoples Republic of Cork Stargate?
Yeah I was asking about SKY v NTL for the folks. I have SKY myself but they have the basic NTL system. They decided on the NTL digital package in the end.

HeeHee Beeker ,

Between Tonights Launch of STS-129 Atlantis at 19:28 Irish time and the Irish game in France Wed im a bag of nerves lol :rolleyes:

With LL over there its really interesting , like WE have our own reporter right there in the thick of it ,cool :cool: or should i say ............. LL COOL J

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

HeeHee Beeker ,

Between Tonights Launch of STS-129 Atlantis at 19:28 Irish time and the Irish game in France Wed im a bag of nerves lol :rolleyes:

With LL over there its really interesting , like WE have our own reporter right there in the thick of it ,cool :cool: or should i say ............. LL COOL J

Hope he gets some good shots!!!! and some good photos aswell.:D

Stargate

Beeker wrote: »

Hope he gets some good shots!!!! and some good photos aswell.:D

LL ( Boards/Astronomy & Space ) = Our ( Leo Enright )

Im sure he will do us proud Beeker

Stargate

Update on spirit

Today (Monday, Nov. 16), driving commands are being prepared to instruct Spirit to attempt to drive forward. These are the first driving commands since Spirit became embedded in a Martian sandtrap approximately six months ago. These commands will be transmitted to Spirit at 1 a.m. PST (4 a.m. EST) Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The rover will be instructed to drive straight ahead (north) in two steps. Each step will be a commanded wheel motion of about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet). At the conclusion of the commanded motion, the rover will collect a three-frame Microscopic Imager mosaic of the rover underbelly. Spirit will also collect Pancam images of the middle wheels, pre-drive and post-drive visual odometry (Visodom), Navcam images, and supporting front and rear Hazcam images. The rover will drive with the robotic arm (Instrument Deployment Device) already deployed in the "fishing stow" position, like Opportunity, so it can take Microscopic Imager images without having to stow and un-stow the arm before and after each drive.

The team expects to spend all day Tuesday analyzing the drive results before the next drive attempt, possibly on Wednesday, Nov. 18. It is expected, at least initially, that little actual motion of the rover will be observed.

The attempt to extract Spirit from the Martian sandtrap is expected to take weeks or months, if it is at all possible. The next status update will be issued Tuesday, Nov. 17


come on girl !! one good push ...... ha

Trev M

cheers for the update , come on girl , get a move on

Azelfafage

The real miracle is that they are stilll going.

Even if stuck in sand........as was always expected for their end.

jumpguy

Azelfafage wrote: »

The real miracle is that they are stilll going.

Even if stuck in sand........as was always expected for their end.

After spending millions of sending a rover there, that still has useful scientific instruments, they're not just gonna give up when it hits sand. It's a pity though, reminds me of a turtle getting stuck upside-down on it's shell in land. A simple problem, with no solution.

Stargate

jumpguy wrote: »

After spending millions of sending a rover there, that still has useful scientific instruments, they're not just gonna give up when it hits sand. It's a pity though, reminds me of a turtle getting stuck upside-down on it's shell in land. A simple problem, with no solution.

jumpguy true enough , to see her stuck there when all she needs is just a little ole push eh , still , fingers crossed .

Stargate

Update

The preliminary results from the first extrication drive for Spirit on Sol 2088 (Nov. 17, 2009) indicate the rover stopped less than 1 second after it began, sensing more vehicle lateral tilt than permitted.

A tight limit on vehicle roll and pitch of less than 1 degree change was set for this first drive. As the rover began its first move, it sensed that its roll was outside the allowed limit and safely stopped the drive.

The project is starting cautiously, setting initial parameters with very tight limits with the knowledge that these hair triggers may stop the rover frequently. As the project gains confidence with extrication, these limits may be relaxed. From this limited drive the team now has a more accurate measurement of vehicle roll and pitch that will be used for subsequent drive planning. Analysis is continuing. Completion of planning for the next drive will be no sooner than Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The attempt to extract Spirit from the Martian sand trap is expected to take weeks or months, with uncertain probability of success.


" indicate the rover stopped less than 1 second after it began "

At least she still alive and able to receive the transmissions , still we hope , it may take a while but i hope she can do it !!

Beeker

They'll keep trying to the end if they have too. Hope she makes it!

Stargate

UPDATE.......

Extrication Attempt Begins -- sols 2084-2090, Nov. 13--19, 2009

Spirit has begun her long-awaited extrication process.

The first commanded motion was on Sol 2088 (Nov. 17, 2009). Two straight forward steps of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) each were sequenced. However, due to a hair-trigger limit on the rover tilt, the drive stopped as soon as it began and no discernable motion in the rover was observed.

With improved value for the rover tilt, the same two-step motion was sequenced on Sol 2090 (Nov. 19, 2009). Spirit successfully completed the first step of the planned motion. The second step was not performed because Spirit exceeded the 1-centimeter (0.4-inch) three-dimensional distance limit that was imposed in the plan. The center of the rover moved approximately 12 millimeters (0.5 inch) forward, 7 millimeters (0.3 inch) to the left and about 4 millimeters (0.2 inch) down. The rover tilt changed by around 0.1 degree. Small forward motion was observed with the non-operable right-front wheel. The left-front wheel showed indications of climbing.

It is cautioned that these motions are too small to establish any trends at this time. The plan ahead is to continue forward driving once all the necessary analysis is complete and reviewed.

As of Sol 2090 (Nov. 19, 2009), Spirit's solar-array energy production is 346 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.517 and a dust factor of 0.588. Total odometry is 7,729.97 meters (4.80 miles).

namloc1980

Spirit made a tiny amount of progress to escape the sand trap. The left wheel climbed slightly out of the sand. Still a long way to go!

Courtesy JPL

Kevster

Beeker wrote: »

I hope they can free it. Spirit and her sister Opportunity have been providing great data and images from the surface of Mars for nearly 6 years now.

Yep, very true. When watching those BBC programmes on Mars during the weeek it just struck me that there is actually two little rovers all the way over there on Mars right now. It must be rather lonely for the little chaps... ...

ynotdu

Not sure if this has already happened today,21st Nov?below from NASA website:


As in the previous drive, the rover will be instructed to drive straight ahead in two 2.5-meter (8.2-foot) steps. This time, however, the right rear wheel will be commanded at a slightly slower speed to allow the right middle wheel to gain more traction. This is to mitigate the potential for a wheelie by the right middle wheel. There will also be tighter limits on the rover's change in direction (yaw) and the angles of the suspension system. As before, not much actual motion of the rover is expected to be observed.

At the conclusion of the commanded motion, the rover will collect three frames from its microscopic imager for a mosaic of the rover underbelly. The rover's panoramic camera will take images of the middle wheels, the navigation camera will take pre-drive and post-drive images for visual odometry, and the front and rear hazard-avoidance cameras will take supporting images.

The drive commands will be transmitted to Spirit Saturday morning. The team expects to have complete drive-related telemetry on the ground on Sunday.

namloc1980

Spirit didn't do so well with it's most recent attempt to drive out of the sand on Saturday with a wheel stall bringing the attempt to a halt. Looks like there's a long way to go yet:

JPL wrote:

Spirit experienced a wheel stall with the right-rear wheel during the second step of a two-step drive on Sol 2092 (Saturday, Nov. 21). This is not the same wheel that stalled on Sol 1899 (May 6), the left-middle wheel. On Sol 2092, the right-rear wheel did not experience a hard stall like what was seen on Sol 1899. Instead, it stalled because the wheel's progress fell behind the expected rotation rate. The rover had completed about 4 meters (13 feet) of commanded wheel spin before the stall terminated the drive. The center of the rover moved about 4 millimeters (0.2 inch) forward, 3 millimeters (0.1 inch) to the left and about 3 millimeters (0.1 inch) down. The rover suspension stayed within the tighter limits set for the drive, and there was only a fractional change in rover tilt.

The plan ahead for today, Nov. 23, is to sequence a set of diagnostics to explore the right rear wheel stall. The diagnostics will include a rotor resistance test, a possible steering test, a small backward rotation of just the right-rear wheel and a short (about 1 meter, or 3 feet) forward commanded motion of the rover. Resumption of the extrication driving would be no sooner than Wednesday.

JPL

ynotdu

This picture clearly shows the 'drag'from the first stalled wheel on Spirit,now may'be two wheels are gone:(

ynotdu

and found this Meterorite on Mars just this month:)

rccaulfield

Amazing thread thanks for the updates! Great engineering to still be functioning! Any plans to send a new model or even a manned mission in the pipeline?

Beeker

rccaulfield wrote: »

Amazing thread thanks for the updates! Great engineering to still be functioning! Any plans to send a new model or even a manned mission in the pipeline?

New rover due for launch in 2011, The Mars Science Laboratory called "Curiosity"
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/index.cfm

As for Manned flights................still a long way in the future i'm afraid:(

Hauk

They should attach a hook to the Mars Science Laboratory. So when it gets to Mars, it can be all "Aww sup man, I'll get you out of there. Sorry I'm late."

But yes, the Mars Science Laboratory. Amazing piece of machinery.

namloc1980

rccaulfield wrote: »

Amazing thread thanks for the updates! Great engineering to still be functioning! Any plans to send a new model or even a manned mission in the pipeline?

As mentioned above MSL, due to launch Sept. 2011, is much more capable than the current rovers. It will be powered by RTGs (electricity generated by decaying plutonium) unlike the current rovers which rely on solar energy. Given that the current rovers have lasted nearly 6 years on Mars so far, MSL could potentially operate for 10+ years on Mars as RTGs are designed to last for decades, but it's initial planned mission is for 2 years.

Don't expect to see a manned mission until the 2030's at the earliest.

The Russians are also sending a probe in 2011 to study Phobos (one of Mars' moons). It is proposed to return a sample from Phobos to Earth for analysis. However the Russians/Soviets have had a brutal run with Mars probes, most of them have crashed, blown up or just died over the years. Hopefully this one will break the run of bad luck.

Azelfafage

The real surprise is why they last so long.

American Engineering.

.

Turtwig

Azelfafage wrote: »

The real surprise is why they last so long.

American Engineering*.

.

Components made in Thailand.

Stargate

SPIRIT UPDATE: Extrication Attempt Continues - sols 2091-2095, Nov. 20-24, 2009:

The Spirit team is continuing with the process of attempting to extract her from her embedded location at Troy on the west side of Home Plate.

On Sol 2092 (Nov. 21, 2009), a two-step 5-meter (16 feet) forward motion was commanded. After the rover completed about 4 meters (13 feet) of wheel spin, a stall occurred in the right-rear wheel. Telemetry suggested that the wheel was bogging down.

On Sol 2095 (Nov. 24, 2009), a series of diagnostic tests on the right-rear wheel was commanded. The test results indicated a fully functioning right-rear wheel free of obstruction. As part of the diagnostics, a short (1.5 meter) forward drive of the rover was commanded. The rover moved forward about 2 millimeters (0.08 inch). The plan ahead is to continue with extrication. Another 5-meter (16 feet) two-step drive is planned for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

As of Sol 2095 (Nov. 24, 2009), the rover solar array energy production was 325 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.590 and a dust factor of 0.575. Total odometry is 7,730.00 meters (4.80 miles).

Spirit Update Archive

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: 'Marquette' Study Continues - sols 2069-2075, Nov. 18-24, 2009:

Opportunity has been investigating the rock known as "Marquette Island" over the last couple of weeks. This target is proving to be something unique that Opportunity has not encountered in more than 2000 Sols of exploring Mars.

The science team is theorizing this rock could be either be a type of meteorite that Opportunity has never seen before or it could be ejecta from deep within the Martian crust that might provide clues to Mars' geologic past. The rover completed Mössbauer (MB) spectrometer and Alpha-Particle-X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) measurements on a rock target named "Peck Bay" last week. Peck Bay was also lightly brushed by the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT), which removed a layer of dust on the rock to expose the material beneath.

To gain additional information on Marquette Island, Opportunity has repeated the same set of measurements on an adjacent target called "Islington Bay." The miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) elevation mirror shroud is being opened when appropriate with the expectation of eventual dust cleaning. No dust cleaning of the Mini-TES mirror has been noted yet.

As of Sol 2075 (Nov. 24, 2009), the solar array energy production was 371 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.512 and a dust factor of 0.520. Total odometry was 18,906.82 meters (11.75 miles).

CMON GIRL !!!!!!

Stargate

SPIRIT UPDATE: Trouble with Right-Rear Wheel - sols 2100-2110, Nov. 29 - Dec. 9, 2009:

Spirit remains embedded in the location called "Troy" on the west side of Home Plate.

Diagnostic tests from Sol 2109 (Dec. 8, 2009) on Spirit's right-rear wheel indicate a troubled wheel. The right-rear wheel rotor resistance tests continue to show very elevated resistance. No motion of the right-rear wheel occurred during a backward commanded motion test. The rotor resistances on all the other operating wheels are nominal.

The plan ahead includes more rotor resistance tests, application of higher voltage to the right-rear wheel to see if any movement will occur, and a check of the right-front wheel to confirm its status and to see if it may offer insight into the right-rear wheel's condition.

As of Sol 2110 (Dec. 9, 2009), Spirit's solar-array energy production is 298 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.517 and a dust factor of 0.563. Total odometry is 7,730.00 meters (4.80 miles).

Spirit Update Archive

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Another Side of 'Marquette' - sols 2080-2090, Nov. 29 - Dec. 10, 2009:

Opportunity has been investigating a rock known as "Marquette Island."

On Sol 2086 (Dec. 6, 2009), the rover backed away and then drove about 5 meters (16 feet) around Marquette Island to image other parts of the rock. On Sol 2089 (Dec. 9, 2009), Opportunity performed a 5-meter (16-foot) approach to the rock to position the rover for an in-situ (contact) study of a different part of the rock than it had touched earlier. On the next sol, the robotic arm (instrument deployment device, or IDD) collected a mosaic of images by the microscopic imager (MI) and then placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) on a new location on the rock for a long integration.

The elevation mirror shroud of the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) is being opened when appropriate with the expectation of eventual dust cleaning. No dust cleaning of the Mini-TES mirror has been noted yet.

As of Sol 2090 (Dec. 10, 2009), Opportunity's solar-array energy production is 359 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.498 and a dust factor of 0.529. Total odometry is 18,917.41 meters (11.75 miles).


Spirit's right-rear wheel indicate a troubled wheel. I wish she could make a pitstop or something , how many millions of miles is it to mars ?? :eek:
If i had enough petrol in the car i`d leave right now ............> anyone esle??

Turtwig

Irish Times wrote:

The good news from Mars is that the stalled US Mars rover, Troy, after six months embedded along the edge of a shallow, sand-filled crater has now begun turning its wheels and making renewed forward progress to the delight of Nasa. Another Mars satellite was launched this year and another three are in the pipeline.

How can you get Spirit's name wrong, that little critter has been the fuel of many peoples imaginations for a long time now and yet a journalist doesn't even bother to learn enough about it to know its name??:mad:

/Rant

Stargate

Malty_T wrote: »

How can you get Spirit's name wrong, that little critter has been the fuel of many peoples imaginations for a long time now and yet a journalist doesn't even bother to learn enough about it to know its name??:mad:

/Rant

LoL Malty_T Its the Irish Times that journalist probably dosent even know what Mars is , he may think its the chocy bar :eek:

lord lucan

Little update on Spirit here:http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/16spirit/

Beeker

lord lucan wrote: »

Little update on Spirit here:http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/16spirit/

Not looking good for it at this stage.

lord lucan

Beeker wrote: »

Not looking good for it at this stage.

She sounds banjaxed unfortunately. Still got more from the little rovers than was ever envisaged so that's something to be thankful for.

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

She sounds banjaxed unfortunately. Still got more from the little rovers than was ever envisaged so that's something to be thankful for.

All the same LL not bad for a spacecraft that was launched in 2003 and landed on Mars in Jan 2004 with a life expectancy of 3 months!:)
The crew controlling it are SO brilliant.

Your new nickname Leo Enright given ya by Stargate,Well i remember how excited he was about the marsrovers website.
I did not have a computer then but booked time in library and became addicted to checking it out as new images became available.
Really they have been one of NASA/JPL's Greatest feats!!!!!!!!!

Beeker

ynotdu wrote: »

All the same LL not bad for a spacecraft that was launched in 2003 and landed on Mars in Jan 2004 with a life expectancy of 3 months!:)
The crew controlling it are SO brilliant.

Your new nickname Leo Enright given ya by Stargate,Well i remember how excited he was about the marsrovers website.
I did not have a computer then but booked time in library and became addicted to checking it out as new images became available.
Really they have been one of NASA/JPL's Greatest feats!!!!!!!!!

Yes a great success but by far the greatest were the Voyagers launched in 1977:)
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

ynotdu

Beeker wrote: »

Yes a great success but by far the greatest were the Voyagers launched in 1977:)
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

Hi,ya Beeker,Got to say that link is out of this Galaxy!:D

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

Little update on Spirit here:http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/16spirit/

Sad news LL , i dont want to give up hope just yet , fingers crossed for her !!

Thanks for the update LL !!

Stargate

Check this out .........

Rescuing a Rover

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1858490

ynotdu

Stargate wrote: »

Check this out .........

Rescuing a Rover

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1858490

Stargate did You check out the bleedin dates on those two vids?:pac::pac::D

Yep,I'll be watching You!:)

Turtwig

ynotdu wrote: »

Stargate did You check out the bleedin dates on those two vids?:pac::pac::D

Neither did I:o
Then again it is four am. I have a good excuse....right?

ynotdu

Malty_T wrote: »

Neither did I:o
Then again it is four am. I have a good excuse....right?

Lol malty

Stargate

Malty_T wrote: »

Neither did I:o
Then again it is four am. I have a good excuse....right?

Ha Malty_T , clever

@ ynotdu , i posted the link for you to see the work they are doing , i know its july blah blah , still its better than a kick in the nutz haha:eek:

Stargate

Right-Front Wheel Rotations
December 17, 2009

Spirit's right-front wheel, which had stopped operating in March 2006, revolved with apparently normal motion during the first three of four driving segments on Sol 2117 (Wednesday, Dec. 16) but stopped early in the fourth segment of the drive.

The rover's right-rear wheel, which stalled nearly three weeks ago, remained immobile during the entire Sol 2117 drive. The other four wheels all drove forward in this part of the continuing attempt to extricate Spirit from the sand trap where it is embedded. The sol's total commanded motion was 10 meters (33 feet) worth of wheel rotations. The resulting movement of the rover was about 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) forward and 4 millimeters (0.16 inch) downward. That ratio of forward to downward is well below what would be necessary over longer distance for extrication. Part of the downward motion on Sol 2117 resulted from the right-front wheel digging in as it rotated about 10 times.

Engineers are analyzing results from the Sol 2117 drive and from electrical tests conducted prior to the drive. Movement of the right-front wheel for about 3.5 minutes was a surprise, despite an indication from an electrical-resistance test on Sol 2113 (Saturday, Dec. 12) that some motion might be possible by the long-disused wheel. It is not clear whether the wheel will work again, since it stopped during the final drive segment. It is also not clear whether extrication from the sand trap would be possible even with an operable right-front wheel.

The drive conducted on Sol 2117 had been planned for one sol earlier, but was delayed after analysis of the Sol 2113 test led to discovery of a new electrical issue on Spirit. Engineers learned that a persistent voltage now exists between the rover electric ground and the rover chassis where no voltage should exist. This condition might be related to problems with the right-rear wheel.

Spirit ran diagnostic tests related to this grounding issue on Sol 2117 prior to driving and during the drive. The single-point ground showed a sustained minus 5 volts that increased to minus 25 volts whenever any of the six wheel-driving motors or four wheel-steering motors were powered. This suggests the unusual electrical behavior is associated with the rover motor controller board since the behavior is seen with all 10 motors associated with that electronics board. The rover has other motors not related to the wheels, but the persistent voltage has not been associated with any of those.

The plan ahead is to perform another set of low-voltage tests on the three right-side wheels and then command another four-step forward drive. This drive would not use the right-front wheel in conjunction with the others, but that wheel would be driven briefly by itself after each step to gain more information about its possible usefulness.

Beeker

6 years on Mars now but time is running out for old Spirit. Still stuck in the sand and unless they can tilt her solar panels to receive more sunlight as winter approaches it looks like it will be all over:(

Stargate

December 31, 2009

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars rover Spirit will mark six years of unprecedented science exploration and inspiration for the American public on Sunday. However, the upcoming Martian winter could end the roving career of the beloved, scrappy robot.

Spirit successfully landed on the Red Planet at 8:35 p.m. PST on Jan. 3, 2004, and its twin Opportunity arrived at 9:05 p.m. Jan. 24, 2004. The rovers began missions intended to last for three months but which have lasted six Earth years, or 3.2 Mars years. 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.

A sand trap and balky wheels are challenges to Spirit's mobility that could prevent NASA's rover team from using a key survival strategy for the rover. The team may not be able to position the robot's solar panels to tilt toward the sun to collect power for heat to survive the severe Martian winter.

Nine months ago, Spirit's wheels broke through a crusty surface layer into loose sand hidden underneath. Efforts to escape this sand trap barely have budged the rover. The rover's inability to use all six wheels for driving has worsened the predicament. Spirit's right-front wheel quit working in 2006, and its right-rear wheel stalled a month ago. Surprisingly, the right-front wheel resumed working, though intermittently. Drives with four or five operating wheels have produced little progress toward escaping the sand trap. The latest attempts resulted in the rover sinking deeper in the soil.

"The highest priority for this mission right now is to stay mobile, if that's possible," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He is principal investigator for the rovers.

If mobility is not possible, the next priority is to improve the rover's tilt, while Spirit is able to generate enough electricity to turn its wheels. Spirit is in the southern hemisphere of Mars, where it is autumn, and the amount of daily sunshine available for the solar-powered rover is declining. This could result in ceasing extraction activities as early as January, depending on the amount of remaining power. Spirit's tilt, nearly five degrees toward the south, is unfavorable because the winter sun crosses low in the northern sky.

Unless the tilt can be improved or luck with winds affects the gradual buildup 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.

"At the current rate of dust accumulation, solar arrays at zero tilt would provide barely enough energy to run the survival heaters through the Mars winter solstice," said Jennifer Herman, a rover power engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

The team is evaluating strategies for improving the tilt even if Spirit cannot escape the sand trap, such as trying to dig in deeper with the wheels on the north side. In February, NASA will assess Mars missions, including Spirit, for their potential science versus costs to determine how to distribute limited resources. Meanwhile, the team is planning additional research about what a stationary Spirit could accomplish as power wanes.

"Spirit could continue significant research right where it is," said Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis, deputy principal investigator for the rovers. "We can study the interior of Mars, monitor the weather and continue examining the interesting deposits uncovered by Spirit's wheels."

A study of the planet's interior would use radio transmissions to measure wobble of the planet's axis of rotation, which is not feasible with a mobile rover. That experiment and others might provide more and different findings from a mission that has already far exceeded expectations.

"Long-term change in the spin direction could tell us about the diameter and density of the planet's core," said William Folkner of JPL. He has been developing plans for conducting this experiment with a future, stationary Mars lander. "Short-period changes could tell us whether the core is liquid or solid," he said.

In 2004, Opportunity discovered the first mineralogical evidence that Mars had liquid water. The rover recently finished a two-year investigation of a half-mile wide crater called Victoria and now is headed toward Endeavor crater, which is approximately seven miles from Victoria and nearly 14 miles across. Since landing, Opportunity has driven more than 11 miles and returned more than 132,000 images.

###
Guy Webster/Veronica McGregor 818-354-5011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov, veronica.mcgregor@jpl.nasa.gov

Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726
NASA Headquarters, Washington
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

NEWS RELEASE: 2009-297

Stargate

Would love to hear her go Beeeeeeeeeeeep !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


http://www.space.com/11245-nasa-spirit-mars-rover-silence-year.html

It's been more than a year since NASA's Mars rover Spirit last contacted Earth, and the odds that the immobilized robot will ever wake up get smaller by the day. Still, NASA engineers have more things to try before they give up all hope.


We live in hope !

Stargate

slade_x

NASA say farewell to the little rover that could


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gPBJL7_wdHR3HhpCMe7djD9Su3WQ?docId=CNG.f35afd4820d245c4cf6bc576e0d51ac3.111

NASA bids farewell to Spirit rover on Mars

WASHINGTON — The US space agency said it is giving up on trying to contact its Spirit rover on Mars, saying the robot explorer likely froze to death in the Red Planet's harsh winter.

"NASA is ending attempts to regain contact with the long-lived Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, which last communicated on March 22, 2010," it said in a statement.

Spirit was only supposed to endure for three months but carried on a bountiful career that lasted more than six years after it first landed on Mars in January 2004.

Last year, NASA said the tireless, 180-kilogram (400-pound), six-wheel robot had broken through a crusty surface layer and hit sand at one edge of the Troy crater, west of the Home Plate plateau, in the Martian southern hemisphere.

All attempts to extricate it failed. Spirit was unable to shake off the Martian dust that has been slowly accumulating on its solar panels, preventing its batteries from recharging.

Scientists held out some hope that after the Mars winter passed, the Spirit would get enough light from the sun to be able to recharge, but it was not to be.

"With inadequate energy to run its survival heaters, the rover likely experienced colder internal temperatures last year than in any of its prior six years on Mars," NASA said. "Many critical components and connections would have been susceptible to damage from the cold."

The US space agency is turning its attention to the launch of its next-generation Mars rover, named Curiosity, later this year but will keep an ear out for the Spirit from time to time.

"We're now transitioning assets to support the November launch of our next generation Mars rover, Curiosity," said Dave Lavery, program executive for solar system exploration.

"However, while we no longer believe there is a realistic probability of hearing from Spirit, the Deep Space Network may occasionally listen for any faint signals when the schedule permits."

http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/05/25/nasa-mars-rover-spirit-communication-end/

NASA says goodbye to Mars rover Spirit

NASA's robotic Mars rover named Spirit will officially be cut loose today, over a year after losing communication with Earth. Spirit's last successful transmission was in March of 2010, and though it failed to respond to numerous contact attempts in the subsequent year, scientists had hope that it might spring back to life upon soaking up some much-needed solar rays after a harsh Martian winter.

The 6-wheeled wonder has led a remarkable and fulfilling life on the red planet, tallying a total of 1,944 days of operation. When launched, the rover was initially expected to survive just 90 days, with every additional day seen as a huge bonus. In its over 5 years of "bonus" exploration, Spirit visited several craters and other geographical features on Mars before accidentally becoming embedded in a particularly soft patch of soil. It was then declared to be a stationary research platform by NASA, and discovered evidence of water before going silent.

Spirit's sister rover, Opportunity, is still going strong. Opportunity was launched just a month after Spirit, and in January of this year it celebrated 7 years of active research. Like Spirit, Opportunity was meant to last just 90 days, making the pair of robotic researchers one of the most successful ventures in NASA's history.

A Televised formal farewell will feature on NASA TV at the end of May 2011

NUTZZ

slade_x wrote: »

NASA say farewell to the little rover that could

Beeker beat you to it this morning!:)

slade_x

NUTZZ wrote: »

Beeker beat you to it this morning!:)

ah missed that, i skimmed over it but something else distracted me

AugustusMinimus

Just thought I'd post this.



Nice size comparison between the present rovers, the rover from the pathfinder mission and the Rover due to be launched later this year.

I never realised the Pathfinder rover was so small.