Rover Exiting Crater To Continue Martian Marathon

Riding with Robots writes "The robotic geologist Opportunity has nearly reached the rim of Victoria Crater, which it is leaving after a year of exploration inside. Rover handlers decided to abandon attempts to approach the crater's cliff walls when they saw a power spike similar to the one that preceded a broken wheel on its twin, Spirit. Opportunity is already making do with a stuck robotic arm. The mission's manager said, 'Both rovers show signs of aging, but they are both still capable of exciting exploration and scientific discovery.' Opportunity is set to continue trekking across the Meridiani Plains of Mars, even though its wheels have already seen 10 times the use they were designed for. Meanwhile, Spirit has survived yet another harsh Martian winter to produce another striking panorama." Adam Korbitz notes other Mars-related news that funding has been approved for the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Genomes (SETG) Project. The project was one of 15 selected to receive funds through a NASA research opportunity program. The stated goal of the proposal is to "develop a PCR detector for in situ analysis on other planets, most immediately, Mars. This instrument is so sensitive it should allow the detection very low levels of microbial life on Mars, and will determine its phylogenetic position by analysis of the DNA sequence of the genes detected in situ."

Comments

Re:PCR? With what primers?

[eln]

Using the DNA samples from Area 51 that we obtained from the Martians that crash landed in Roswell, of course. Duh.

Re:zzz

[Cheerio Boy]

so.. we all know what would happen if Microsoft designed a motor car, but what would happen if the Rover Team designed one? (I don't know about you, but I think still working after 4 years is damn impressive)

It would use almost no gas, almost never break down, but there would be a 4 to 40 minute lag between when you push the gas pedal and when it moves. :-D

Search for Extra-Terrestrial Genomes?

[OolimPhon]

"...the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Genomes (SETG) Project..." Sigh. I read that as "the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Gnomes Project". It's late. I'm tired. Perhaps I should stop coding now...

Re:zzz

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, it has 33% of those features in common with your average US* made car then.

* please replace with your own country if you are not from the US, to achieve maximum insult level.

Re:zzz

[Anonymous Coward]

so.. we all know what would happen if Microsoft designed a motor car, but what would happen if the Rover Team designed one?

It doesn't matter, you couldn't afford it... Even if you are Bill Gates and Oprah's kid. Wiki:"The total cost of building, launching, landing and operating the rovers on the surface for the initial 90 day primary mission was about US$820 million." Ignoring the costs, the teams of trained operators in mission control, the autonomous technology, and the types of redundancy and preparation that go into a highly visible space project with this kind of visibility ... wouldn't you be left with a solar powered golf cart?

Wow. Looks just like New Mexico

[azav]

But without all the poverty.

Re:zzz

[TempeTerra]

And when one of the wheels seizes up, support will tell you to be excited because your car is now also a plow!

Re:Panorama

[TheModelEskimo]

http://www.marccarson.com/images/slashdot-mars-panorama.jpg

There you go...491KB.

Re:Panorama

[TheModelEskimo]

Yeah, forgot to mention my source image was from a friend who used to be in the Republican Guard...he says NASA always edit their panos before the public see them. Some of their cattle mutilation images from Titan are pretty impressive.

Re:zzz

[Anonymous Coward]

My country does not have a car manufacturing industry, you insensitive clod!