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Mars Rover Spirit May Never Wake From Deep Sleep

Posted by Soulskill on from the borrow-my-alarm-clock,-that'll-do-it dept.

astroengine writes "After repeated calls from NASA to wake up Mars Exploration Rover Spirit from its low-energy hibernation mode, mission control is beginning to realize the ill-fated robot may never wake up again. After getting stuck in a sand trap in Gusev Crater and then switching into hibernation in March, rover operators were hopeful that the beached Spirit might yet be saved. Alas, this is looking more and more unlikely. In a statement, NASA said: 'Based on models of Mars' weather and its effect on available power, mission managers believe that if Spirit responds, it most likely will be in the next few months. However, there is a very distinct possibility Spirit may never respond.'" Related xkcd strip, in case the headline wasn't anthropomorphic enough for you.

3 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. RIP little buddy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sad that people are taking so little notice. The two rovers may be the greatest achievement of mankind to date. Lasting this long is beyond heroic. They may be robots but they have both shown a stubborn determination that is impressive for man or machine. He'll be missed and I think we all wish his brother well. They'll be decades going over the data generated but the two lonely robots, one now apparently sleeping for all time.

    1. Re:RIP little buddy by dtml-try+MyNick · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wish I could mod you up 10 times.

      The majority of people haven't got the slightest idea that A: these robots even exist and B: even if they do what kind of achievement it is.
      The scale and precision of this operation is mindboggling.

      The distances, the numerous variables and sensitivities involved is something that I, as just a layman, can't even begin to comprehend.

      But I can sit back, read and watch about it and for once be proud of the human race. Be in awe what good and positive things, however hard they might be, we as humans can accomplish if we really set our minds to it.

      --
      Life starts at the end of your comfort zone.
  2. I should have such ill-fate by sphealey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > "After repeated calls from NASA to wake up Mars Exploration Rover
    > Spirit from its low-energy hibernation mode, mission control is beginning
    > to realize the ill-fated robot may never wake up again.

    I would wish to have such ill-fate as exceeding my predicted lifetime by a factor of 10x and accomplishing 20x more than believed possible within that lifetime.

    sPh