Mars Rover: Tumbleweed Models

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Mars Rover: Tumbleweed Models

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Friday May 23, 2003 @08:12PM from the hither-and-yon dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A North Carolina State project has prototyped a wind-blown Mars exploration rover. It draws its inspiration from the lowly tumbleweed, to cover large distances with low-power requirements. For collecting atmospheric, thermal or geological samples across great distances, the 'single-wheel' tumbleweed has some advantages over the usual four-wheeling approach to tough terrain."

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Re:I don't know... by moncyb · 2003-05-23 21:12 · Score: 5, Funny

I don't really like the idea of any sort of "seed" probing like that. For one, it seems like an invasion of sorts.

Well, if the Martians were really afraid of an Earthling invasion, they'd already have sent their nukes over here, now wouldn't they. ;-)
Two, its a recipe for spreading bacteria all over the planet ... how can we tell if these bacteria or whatever are originally from Mars or from Earth?

You call it contamination. I call it terraforming. ;-)
This is great... by thynk · 2003-05-23 21:20 · Score: 4, Funny

...until it gets stuck in a fence or run over on the interstate.

--

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Re:Ok by Timesprout · 2003-05-23 21:38 · Score: 4, Funny

The plan is to fool the Martians into thinking they are beach balls so they take them home and thus provide lots of useful information.

--
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
Re:How do they steer? by malia8888 · 2003-05-23 22:01 · Score: 5, Funny

I don't know how they steer; however, from years of living on the plains of Oklahoma observing hundreds of tumbleweeds I know where the Mars rover will end up....
stuck in a barbed wire fence;)

--
Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
Female Geek Alert by Anonymous Coward · 2003-05-23 22:45 · Score: 3, Funny

Either these are geniune female geeks...

or these guys have groupies!

Picture here and here!

Now I respect their project!

AC
Is it me? by mikeophile · 2003-05-23 23:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Or does it look like the guy in front on the main article picture is copping a serious feel from the hottie next to him with his right hand?
She doesn't seem to mind.
NASA girls rock.
Re:Not such a bad idea by ElGanzoLoco · 2003-05-24 02:44 · Score: 3, Funny

... big clunky rovers that have a 50/50 chance of surviving Nasa's re-entry math.

You mean, like, math involving metric system and feet and inches?

--
Hello! I'm a disaster waiting to happen!