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Air Bag Blocks Spirit's Path

Posted by michael on from the jaws-of-life dept.

cosog writes "bad news everyone: 'Two sections of the air bags used to cushion Spirit during the landing phase are obstructing the vehicle's path.'. Fortunately scientists have a solution for it: 'We'll lift up the left petal of the lander, retract the airbag, then let the petal back down[...]'. This means that: 'The earliest the six-wheeled Spirit rover will get rolling is Jan. 14, about three days later than originally planned, NASA said'."

4 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Rover can use another ramp by Aglassis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The article says that if all the lift and tuck maneuvers fail, the rover could just turn and roll of in another direction. I know we have some JPL dudes hanging out here, so the question is, why waste 3 days? Why not just roll off the alternate ramp and start exploring? I guess I just don't understand why the front ramp is so special.

    --
    Suddenly, the hairy finger of a familiar monkey tapped me on the shoulder. It was time.--G. T.
    1. Re:Rover can use another ramp by zeux · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why not just roll off the alternate ramp and start exploring?

      The mission has plenty of time and the way behind the rover is a little less large than the way in the front.

      It's better to take 3 days checking everything and trying to clear the best way than rushing and losing the rover.

      And also remember that during these 3 days they can still continue scientific experiments thanks to the cameras.

      --
      Iraq: war to save the U
    2. Re:Rover can use another ramp by BlueEyes_Austin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      They're saying 90 days...but on astrobiology they are working on a 104 day schedule (difference between Sols and Earth daays, perhaps?) In any event, these puppies ought to last quite a bit longer than 90 days. They are just keeping expectations down. (Like they are not talking AT ALL about finding fossils, although the science package can do this.)

  2. Re:previous air bag difficulty by Surazal · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You know, I thought of this when I followed this Mars landing from Day One: "They're complaining about an airbag being in the way!? Whatever happened to worrying about the darned thing landing in one piece?"

    Ah well, this is honestly the type of technical problem I like to see when watching this. It sure beats the alternatives.

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    --- Journals are boring; Go to my web page instead