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Spirit Stuck In Soft Soil On Mars

Posted by timothy on from the it's-covered-in-jam dept.

cheros writes "NASA reports that the Spirit Mars lander is presently stuck in soft soil. The lander's wheels are halfway sunk into the soil and they are planning simulation tests to see if they can get it out again. I hope they can get it out of there because it's picking up enough new energy to operate; however, it only has 5 wheels left to get around on — one of the wheels hasn't been working for years. Fingers crossed."

20 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Call a tow truck by confused+one · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time to call AAA...

    1. Re:Call a tow truck by Megane · · Score: 4, Funny

      Alien Automobile Association?

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    2. Re:Call a tow truck by rackserverdeals · · Score: 4, Funny

      They should get Opportunity to come by and fire it's grappling hook to tow it out with its winch.

      What?!?! We launched a bunch of space robots to an unknown, rocky terrain without a grappling hook and winch?

      They probably didn't include the lasers either. Good thing the people that carved the face are long dead.

      --
      Dual Opteron < $600
    3. Re:Call a tow truck by camperdave · · Score: 3, Funny

      Opportunity is on the opposite side of the planet. Given how fast the rovers travel, Opportunity could be on the scene in late 2157.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    4. Re:Call a tow truck by Sentax · · Score: 5, Funny

      With the lack of spirit, there won't be much opportunity.

    5. Re:Call a tow truck by Onyma · · Score: 5, Funny

      So pretty much a normal road side assistance response time then.

      --
      Play me online? Well you know that I'll beat you. If I ever meet you I'll "/sbin/shutdown -h now" you. -Weird Al, kinda.
    6. Re:Call a tow truck by crashumbc · · Score: 3, Funny

      This always baffled me. Bread, ok. But WHY would you buy milk when there could be severe weather. If you're trapped in your house, your power will likely go out, and now you have a new gallon of spoiled milk.

      yeah it's not like its COLD outside or anything...

    7. Re:Call a tow truck by turgid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Duh. Sharks can't live in space.

      Sharks can live under water. There is no air under water. There is also no air in space. Therefore sharks can live in space.

      --
      Stick Men
  2. Should have used show chains... by tippe · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... but I guess it's a little too late now. Oh well, better luck next time.

    1. Re:Should have used show chains... by ianare · · Score: 4, Funny

      How would they have helped, if they're only for show ?

  3. Re:5 out of 6 wheels?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's more mileage than most American cars :)

  4. Craigslist Mars by BigBlueOx · · Score: 2, Funny

    WANTED: IlludiumQ36 space modulators. New or used. Top prices paid! Contact Shirley or Bobbie @NASA.

  5. Shoulda... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shoulda went with that optional AWD package.

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  6. DUI-S by youn · · Score: 2, Funny

    would the cause of the accident be a driving under influence of spirit ?

    --
    Never antropomorphize computers, they do not like that :p
  7. A comedy? by denzacar · · Score: 3, Funny

    maybe a good comedy movie will do the trick.

    Like that recent JJ Abrams comedy based on Star Trek characters?

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  8. There is precedent by edremy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Grumman billed North American Aerospace for towing the crippled Apollo 13 command module back from the moon. Make it worth enough and I'm sure someone will be up there shortly

    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
  9. The Big Bang Theory by thespacemark · · Score: 4, Funny

    Okay, it is pretty obvious that someone at NASA is a fan of the show, and figured if it worked for Wolowitz... Hey, surely 'I' won't be so stupid as to get the rover stuck. Maybe they will discover life on Mars while stuck in the dirt.

  10. Re:Still the cheaper option? by Zordak · · Score: 4, Funny

    And don't forget, turning up this soft soil may reveal something important.

    Especially if the "soft soil" turns out to be warm poo.

    --

    Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  11. Geocities is dead you moron by Liath · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/as13/as13bill.png

  12. Full glass by camperdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...or, the glass is full - with an overfill safety margin of 100%

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!