Mars Rover Spirit Down a Wheel

riflemann writes "NASA is reporting that two years into its 90-day mission, Spirit has lost one wheel and is now running on five wheels, dragging the broken wheel. With this reduced mobiity, the rover still needs to make its way to a slope where it can catch enough sun over the Martian winter to keep it operating. 'Even though the rovers are well past their original design life, they still have plenty of capability to conduct outstanding science on Mars.', says project leader Dr. John Callas."

Comments

At first read, I get dissapointed

[R2.0]

Then I remember a story Spider Robinson told about a cheap digital watch that died on him. He was pretty pissed off, but then he remembered that:

a) it was originall a Crackerjack prize or some other freebie.

b) it was 5 years into it's projected one year battery life.

At this point he gave it a solemn memorial service and kept it in a revered place (I think he may have buried it).

Whenever they finally die, I hope that they find an honored place in whatever museum the future Mars colonists decide to set up.

R2.0

exploration will continue

[MoFoYa]

I think its great that the mars rovers lasted as long as they have. when you consider the failed mars mission attempts, spirit and opportunity are huge successes that have long outlasted their expected lifespan. The new mars orbiter "MRO" is sure to provide more information about the surface of mars, and possible landing sites for even more capable landers in the future. my question to /.ers is this: should we be focusing so much on mars or should we be looking toward other possible outposts/life harboring worlds like europa. and the new horizons mission to pluto - a waste of time, or an exciting new learning opportunity? personally, i doubt life will be found on mars. and i'm doubtfull any significant life will be found anywhere in our solar system. but, we are natural explorers who will continue to explore, even with a bum wheel.

Re:Not so surprising

[slightlyspacey]

What do you expect? The rover has lasted *8* times longer than design. That's the equivalent of driving 400,00 miles on tires rated for 50,000 miles. It's a heck of an accomplishment and I can only applaud the terrific job the design engineers and builders did.

Tire tracks, not water

[tilde_e]

It is so interesting that we leave tire tracks on other planets. They may be that the first signs of life we find, or that other beings find.

Imagine the tension if we found ourselves face-to-face with a foreign martian rover!