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Opportunity Rover Encounters Its Own Heat Shield

Posted by timothy on from the like-a-shadow-of-its-former-self dept.

blamanj writes "Mars Rover Opportunity, a few meters shy of the 2km mark on its odometer, has come across the remains of the heat shield from its landing. This map traces the path of the rover for the past 11 months. It's been averaging about 6 meters/sol. Spirit, which had to stop to dislodge a rock, is still climbing the "Columbia Hills". It's tough going, and Spirit experiences slippage of up to 80% as it climbs the hills."

2 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. heat shield by helioquake · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's not often that we get a chance to examine the integrity of the remaining heat shield in these missions. Let it take a look and see what JPL guys can learn from it for future missions, eh?

  2. How much buried? by FuturePastNow · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It will be interesting to see how much sand has been blown over the shield in almost a year. Might give more insights into Martian weather.

    --
    Give a man fire, and you warm him for the night. Set a man on fire, and you warm him for the rest of his life.