Mars rover "Spirit" is 5 years old today!

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7808917.stm

Amazing - from an expected mission span of only 3 months, both rovers still working fin e and sending back useful data.

Happy Birthday Spirit!

[Dog Star (Phil)]

They really are amazing little pieces of technology, aren't they?
They've certainly shown "spirit."

[renormalised (Carl)]

I'd like to see them last another 5 or so years.

[astroron (Ron)]

The great little vehicle is showing lots of "Spirit" in keeping going, may it keep on going for quite a lot longer.

[Lester]

They have taken robotic exploration to a new level. Plus being able to see what they see on the internet is just amazing.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Amazing little machines, happy birthday Spirit...

[Jen]

[MrB (Simon)]

Yes it is amazing, though 'fine' isn't quite true, one is dragging a foot.
(seized wheel)

[lesbehrens (Les)]

amazing thing. a 3 month mission wasnt good enough for it. keep looking
les

[Ric]

Definitely amazing technology, you couldn't kill em with a big stick.

Here's to another 5 years.

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Yep, Spirit and its "sibling" (being PC ) Opportunity have done extremely well. A great tribute to the engineers who designed them. Long may they continue to send us back such stunning pics and science.

Bill

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Originally Posted by MrB

Yes it is amazing, though 'fine' isn't quite true, one is dragging a foot.
(seized wheel)

Some days I drag both my feet, but I still consider myself to be running fine.


I believe that they simply drive it backwards now to get around the problem, dragging that wheel instead of pushing it. Apart from that the data it gathers, etc, is still every bit as good as it was before the 'costume malfunction'.

[erick (Eric)]

"NASA's Spirit Mars rover today passes its sixth anniversary on the Red Planet, albeit bogged down in sandy soil which looks likely to be its final resting place."

"Unless Spirit can angle its solar arrays to capture the maximum possible sunlight, it faces the prospect of freezing to death when winter arrives in five months, since it won't be able to power the internal heaters which protect its electronics. NASA explains that the current tilt is "nearly five degrees toward the south", which is "unfavorable because the winter sun crosses low in the northern sky"."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01...r_anniversary/

[Jen]

awww im gonna miss you Spirit

[erick (Eric)]

ps. "...or luck with winds affects the gradual buildup of dust on the solar panels..." Why did they not design them with a simple brush arrangement which could be drawn across the solar panels to remove accumulated dust?

[Jen]

Gday Eric
I guess they forgot about that one

[gary]

Originally Posted by erick

ps. "...or luck with winds affects the gradual buildup of dust on the solar panels..." Why did they not design them with a simple brush arrangement which could be drawn across the solar panels to remove accumulated dust?

Where are those guys that pop out at intersections in the city and insist on wanting to
clean your windscreen when you need them?

Apparently the right-front wheel stopped working about three and half years ago
so apparently it handles like a bit of a shopping trolley but its fabulous overall reliability certainly is
testimony to the engineers who designed it and its constituent components.

[Ric]

They were built tough though.

I reckon when the first manned mission finally lands they will dust off the panels and Spirit will start first kick of the starter.

[mozzie (Peter)]

amazing gear least there giving us shots of mars cause every 2 years when at opposition and can see abit ourselves it rains and cloudy

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Jen

Gday Eric

Hello Jen!