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Mars Rover Stuck in a Dune
Bamfarooni writes "The NASA Mars rover Opportunity has gotten stuck in a dune, buried up to the hubs of the wheels. While they haven't given up yet, it doesn't look good for the little guy who's now 359 days into the extended mission." From the article: "The Mars machinery had been cruising southward across the open parking lot-like landscape of Meridiani Planum, full of larger and larger ripples of soil. Opportunity has been en route to its next stopover, Erebus crater, nestled inside an even larger crater known as Terra Nova."
It was probably attacked by a giant sandworm.
They need bigger wheels! Knew they shoulda opt for those shiny 18" !
If you had let Xzibit and West Coast Customs pimp out the Rover with 20 inch rims you would have avoided this problem.
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Too bad if it's permanently stuck, but what an amazing success for this mission, which has gone on far longer that it was planned for. I hope the NASA engineers get the recognition they deserver for this job well done.
If any NASA or JPL people are reading this thread I have one thing to say:
Mission _very_ accomplished.
The human race knows infinitely more of our red neighbor thanks to your hard work.
THANK YOU!
They have two rovers. The solution is obvious.
"We are very optimistic that we'll be able to get out of here, but we're really going to take our time doing it."
It sounds like NASA is going to use a technique I discovered playing video games as a child. If you're stuck somewhere, just wiggle the joystick back and forth for a few hours to see if you can work your way out of it. Too bad they can't reload a saved game. I found that technique helpful too.
I'm a big tall mofo.
If only NASA engineers watched more BattleBots they'd have realized that they needed a flipper arm underneath.
There's discussion on the Mars Rover Discussion Board and again. It seems careful Rover Watchers noticed that it hadn't moved in a few days, and started to wonder why. Apparently NASA had to say something, because people were asking questions.
My bet is that its grounded on the wreckage of Beagle II. :)
I was going to dismiss this out of hand, but FTA, Opportunity did find two small craters right before running aground. The cause?
They could have been created by an object from space that was large enough to make it through the martian atmosphere without burning up.
And, let's not forget:
"Given that these two craters haven't been covered by sand even though they are surrounded by sand ripples on a flat plain lends support to the idea that they're fairly recent."
They're too embarrased to admit it, but they actually found the rover on red cement blocks and some Mars fiend has stolen the wheels.
We need to get those volvo driving NASA geeks out of the drivers seat and call in Cousin Clyde. Sure, he's used to driving a F350 with 10" lift and 32" mudboggers, but hell, just tell him it's eight wheel drive and there's a case of PBR in it for him. He'll have it unstuck in no time.
That really is a small planet!
I am defenseless. Use your button. Mod me down with all of your hatred.
The rover is dead. Somebody has already stripped the hub caps and key'd the side of the vehicle. Left rear axle is up on blocks. Birds have covered the front and rear windows with poop. It doesn't look good for the little guy who's now 359 days into the extended mission. It is unlikely that a tow truck will reach it anytime soon.