Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What's Inside the Mars Rovers

Posted by michael on from the remote-root dept.

Captain Zion writes "Space.com has a story about the hardware and software of Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Basically, they're radiation-shielded, 20MHz PowerPC machines wirh 128Mb RAM and 256Mb of flash memory, running VxWorks. I wonder if I could make a nice firewall with one of these for my home network..."

7 of 458 comments (clear)

  1. What's inside the rover? by Chilltowner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Darn. Interesting articles, but I was hoping that inside it was filled with creamy nougat center. Oh, wait. I'm thinking Mars bar. Nevermind.

  2. Self-warming by Faust7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    To survive the frigid Martian night, MER computers are housed in warm electronics boxed heated by a combination of electric heaters, eight radioisotope heater units as well as the natural warmth from the electronics themselves.

    Just leave off the heatsinks and fans, and everything should be fine.

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
    1. Re:Self-warming by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 5, Funny

      If only they'd used an Athlon, the planet would have been habitable in Bermuda shorts by the end of the week.

      --
      When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  3. Re:What's the bus speed on that thing? by GoofyBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    >What are the chances of you using all 128mb of ram?

    Ask Bill Gates.

    --
    The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
  4. A nice Firewall? by blorg · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I wonder if I could make a nice firewall with one of these for my home network..."

    You could, but the latency would be a bitch.

  5. Re:Radiation Shielding by pi+eater · · Score: 5, Funny

    A modded alienware case perhaps?

    geeky stuff.. offensive stuff!

  6. Re:What's the bus speed on that thing? by 3waygeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other words, the Spirit is willing, but the flash is weak.