Opportunity Rover Arrives at Endurance Crater

Mean_Nishka writes "After weeks of driving, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has arrived at 'Endurance Crater.' It's a scientific treasure trove with an extensive outcrop of layered bedrock, and scientists will have to decide whether or not to send Opportunity inside for a closer inspection without getting it stuck forever - there's more information via a Monterey Herald/AP article."

Comments

Stuck Forever?

[alpinist]

I doubt it would get stuck there forever. I'm sure the Chinese will be more than happy to pull it out and bring it back to Earth so it can be kept at the Beijing Smithsonian.

Stuck there forever?

[WarlockD]

I mean really, wasn't that the point of going to mars in the first place?

I mean sure, its a long way to just put a multi-million dollar jeep, but damnit we came this far we might as well do a running jump into that thing!

Endurance crator? Who comes up with these names...

[chiyosdad]

Opportunity (level 3 Rover of the Martian Plains; Strength: 20 / Agility: 8 / Endurance: 10 / Intelligence: 2) finds a crater in the ground.
The crater has no distinguishing features!

You...
[x] descend and explore the surroundings
[_] circumvent the crater and continue your previous explorations

You are basked in a strange and comforting light!
+ Strength 1
+ Endurance 30!
+ Agility 2
+ Intelligence 1
You found a new item! Unremarkable Rock of Endurance (+14)
[x] keep
[_] drop

You leave the crater and continue your explorations.
You drive over a rock askew and fall onto your back, unable to right yourself!

> Cast Roll Over (level 2)

You must roll 14 or better to cast this spell.
> 1d36

Opportunity (level 3 Rover of the Martian Plains) has rolled a 08

You continue to lie immobile on your back in the cold Martian evening. Slowly, your batteries lose power and a darkness begins to come over you. As you desperately struggly against the dying of the light, your thoughts go back to your maladjusted childhood...

This looks familiar.....

[cixelsyd]

Am I the only one who thinks this "crater" looks like a giant antlion trap? Especially with the loose "sand" looking stuff in the bottom center... I could totally see a gigantic martian antlion reaching out of that thing and rending poor opportunity into bits. Let's hope they didn't neglect to include phasers when designing these rovers =)