Sometimes it seems as NASA rovers on Mars, Spirit and Opportunity will last forever on the red planet.Since 2004, the two rovers have explored different parts of Mars with a surprising longevity scientists stunned, almost as much as the robot data beamed back to Earth. Spirit and Opportunity have shed light on the history of water on Mars in the distant past, exploring the hills of Mars and meteorites, and even shot inside the craters of the probe increasingly in the planet’s geological history.
Today, Opportunity has added another Martian meteorite – the third part of its mission – in their grab bag of the red planet discoveries. Opportunity began heading towards the rock in pieces, who has been called “Shelter Island”, on 1 October and is coming to study the meteorite using its robotic arm. Finally went to a distant crater, giant called Endeavor.
Spirit is stuck up to its wheel hubs in a Martian sand dune that has frustrated all attempts at flight to date. Engineers are still trying, however, and vehicle power systems and science instruments are in good shape.
Mars engineer Ashley Stroupe, who works at the mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) discussed exploits of Spirit and Opportunity with readers SPACE.com during a recent forum in vivo. Stroupe Here are some answers to readers’ questions about the challenges of the Rover mission which is to drive both cars on Mars:
Has the Mars exploration team has considered the possibility of using the Spirit rover instrument arm maybe help push it out of its current predicament?
Dr. Stroupe: Several people have questions about using the [DDI device deployment tools, or the robotic arm] to help out the Spirit. The IDD is very low in mass and was only designed to exert the necessary force to firmly to the instruments on the objectives of science.
That means that just moves around the center of the rover changes of gravity and attitude. The arm can only be exercised at most about 20 pounds of pressure, which is only 13 percent of what would be needed to lift the mass of the rover on Mars. With that level of force that could again only minimally affect the attitude of the rover, and would not be able to move the rocks of considerable size. And if we try, it’s definitely a risk of damage or the IDD instruments himself. If all else fails, we may give one of these strategies a try and hope that the small difference is enough, but these are all very risky, and so far down our list of options.
Do you have a timeframe in mind to seek a spirit stuck? Are there budgetary issues to consider as well or that the project go ahead if the Spirit answered?
Dr. Stroupe: We have no particular deadline in mind. We are driven to make sure we have the most favorable plan that we have to maximize our chances of success. It is likely that at least a few more weeks. At this point, the plan’s success is our main engine, not civil and not the budget.
We’re still completing our testing ground and began driving yet on Mars. This is probably at least a few weeks away.
How much easier is that the unit plan the next day, now that in the beginning?
Dr. Stroupe: The vehicles are actually robots, and as such are very autonomous. We give them a full day of activities at once (morning) and then at the end of the day, those who live and let us know how they did. During the day, the implementation of the plan, and maintain safe conditions that arise that were not foreseen. Occasionally, during an emergency, send the rovers in real time, but this almost never involves driving or operating the robotic arm.
We have developed a great experience and a lot of tools that help us since the beginning of the mission. New challenges, however, every day and every place is different and brings. Although I would not say that really has gotten easier, I can say is that it has become much more efficient.
Spirit and Opportunity not handle differently when they are commanded from Earth, or is it more like once you’ve driven one rover, which has driven them all? And do you have a favorite?
Dr. Stroupe: Actually, the rovers behave differently! Spirit and Opportunity are the first to land very different, and you have to drive differently. In addition, they have aged differently and have led us to use very different strategies. We need to get Spirit back mostly to drag the right front wheel rotates, and we have to drive Opportunity’s robotic arm on the front from one of the joints broke and can not save more. Therefore, it is definitely the drive one, drive them all. ”
I have a favorite – Spirit is my favorite – but I love Opportunities too!
Perhaps, given the experience of Opportunity exploration of craters in the interior, the vehicle could hunt for water ice at the bottom of a huge crater as Endeavor, when it arrives?
Dr. Stroupe: Anything is certainly possible, although I do not think it’s pretty Opportunity latitudes where they find water. In view of the Martian atmosphere, something on the surface is gone and the opportunities you can not dig very deep. So it’s not very likely but not impossible!
From a technical standpoint, what lessons did you learn the robot team? Does this influence the design of future planetary rovers and the Mars Science Laboratory?
Dr. Stroupe: That’s a very difficult question to answer because we learned a lot. We really have learned much more about the challenges of driving, and what works well in different types of terrain. We have also learned to drive vehicles of aging that have not already full capacity – this is really an entirely new field of robotics, because here on Earth just to fix when broken.
Unfortunately, most of these lessons is too late to incorporate into our next vehicle, which is already well into production. However, these will help us operate CPM, and taken into account in the design of future missions.
What was the single most exciting event that has participated in the project during the rovers on Mars?
Dr. Stroupe: Wow this is a very difficult question because there has been a lot! Personally, my first drive on Mars was very exciting, for obvious reasons. Furthermore, the day he discovered the first real evidence of large water distribution in the Spirit’s landing site in Gusev Crater changed the way we all think about Mars, which was very exciting.
Would it be possible to make the second run to the Opportunity rover Spirit in attempts to leave with a bang or a sideways, or would be too risky or long time to try?
Dr. Stroupe: The vehicles are on totally opposite sides of the planet. Unfortunately, it would take many, many years to drive that far, at 200 meters per day. N AAA on Mars!
The surprising thing has been watching the rovers spent so much time and what are the greatest dangers to its longevity now?
Dr. Stroupe: Honestly, it’s very surprising. While we knew that were designed and built to the absolute best of our ability (and have a lot of very talented and intelligent people here!), Mars is a very dangerous place. The biggest surprise, and one without which we would continue on Mars, it can also be nice. Martian winds have kept the solar panels clean, and without any long past the time when I could not do enough power to survive.
At this point in their lives, it is impossible to know what can go wrong next. Many things we can learn to avoid (such as engines and wheel arm already broken), but other things they could not avoid. Breaks depends on how, when and where.
How big is the team that leads Spirit and Opportunity? Do you have to train with the Earth Simulator in a kind of rover Driver Ed? Can you give us an idea of what it’s like – if you ever think about it – really with a car on Mars?
Dr. Stroupe: The team is still quite large, probably has about 20 people working on each vehicle every day we have planned. For driving, we have very good simulators that we use to test our sequences before sending them to the Rover, and also use it for training. It takes a long time to complete and get your driver’s license of Mars.
For what it’s like – is no less impressive. Probably the closest I ever become an astronaut. Go to new places and be the first human eyes to see them is deep and difficult to describe. It’s the best job I could imagine.
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