Just to clarify: landing upside-down wasn't a failure mode because the lander could right itself by "flipping over" during deployment. This only gets the assembly into the right position for letting the rover roll off. This, as we've seen, is a whole different proposition.
Spirit actually had to roll off a 4-5" drop at the bottom of the ramp, possibly because of rocks, uneven ground, etc. That drop would've flipped Sojourner, for example, on its back. Being the size of a golf cart, Spirit has some advantages in this area. But as it's more massive, it has its own set of problems, as I've also commented on.
I also agree with the poster who states that the real danger is as much political as it is technical. But MER's operators probably aren't thinking that. Managers, yes. Engineers and scientists, probably not.
MER's wheels stood a pretty good chance of getting "hung up" in the bags. If you remember Sojourner's wheels, which were studded with little metal cone-shaped spikes, you'll understand why operators were concerned.
MER doesn't have those spikes, but its wheels have sharp edges - besides, MER's several times more massive than little Sojourner...a whole different driving experience, to bastardize a BMW ad-line.
It's be like sending a sportscar 37 million miles only to get it stuck in the mud. That's exactly what NASA didn't need this year. Now, if only the next rover can enter Mars's atmosphere without a hitch, we'll be alright.
I, too, agree with those who have cited the period nature of these types of events.
The scientific tracking of this phenomenon - within the bounds of a burgeoning field called paleomegnetism - has shown that such events have been seen already.
If I remember correctly, the seafloor around the Mid-Altantic Ridge shows local magnetic field lines (embedded in rock) that exhibit directional reversal on a regular basis. The regular, gradual creation of new seafloor on both sides of this band of spreading magma locks in the direction of Earth's general magnetic field at the time of formation - showing, some think, that these occurrences are regular and repeatable.
And yes, we're definitely overdue. But, we're also overdue for a planet-killing asteroid impact, so I guess there's nothing to worry about. What's a little field instability among friends?
It should be noted, however, that there is some notion that periods during which magnetic shielding is lost probably does wonders for increasing evolutionary branching. Think of all the natural selection that gets done under such extreme environmental pressure...
Sorry for the ramble. IANAP, by the way, but IAAPT (teacher).
Speaking of warflying/driving/walking, it looks like this is an accident waiting to happen.
A city of 50,000 people jumping on the WiFi bandwagon is going to leave a lot of personal information out in the open. Not to mention the free surfing opportunities.
Cerritos. The Web-Jacker's Paradise.
Tourism's gonna soar, I'll tell you what. I noticed that the article doesn't mention how much this will actually cost, either. Hmm.
In that case, then, could you imagine what a strong, localized earthquake would do to the local squirrel population?
It'd be like a bunch of icepacks with fur.
I think the fact that supercooling proceeds to completion at all is a sign that there's something else going on.
Re:Temperature is not an issue
on
Sub-Zero Squirrels
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· Score: 3, Interesting
I would think the problem would be warming up after the hibernation period was over. The squirrel has to retain enough stored energy to complete this process.
Come to think of it, as long as its body fluid doesn't freeze, the required energy remains minimal - melting is what hogs up so much energy. Now, the supercooling without freezing; that suggests that squirrel blood has a very low concentration of dissolved solids - or, like a previous poster suggested, has some kind of antifreeze in there.
Because, with enough small particles for the freezing process to "grab on" to, BAM. Squirrel-cicle.
I just have to add one thing, in reference to the original article:
"PETA's Chandna said it may be difficult to translate this information into human applications.
"I think squirrels are very different from us..."
It's not the magnetosphere directly that protects Earth, but its shape, too...the van Allen belts are evidence that an effective barrier 'traps' the incoming particles, rather than deflects them away, a'la "magnetic bottles".
I'm not sure if a small ship-sized field would be enough. Sure, you could generate one (especially with nuclear power, but its total energy content would be nothing close to Earth's.
Question: do the van Allen belts actually contribute to shielding themselves?
Slashdot Mirror
Just to clarify: landing upside-down wasn't a failure mode because the lander could right itself by "flipping over" during deployment. This only gets the assembly into the right position for letting the rover roll off. This, as we've seen, is a whole different proposition.
Spirit actually had to roll off a 4-5" drop at the bottom of the ramp, possibly because of rocks, uneven ground, etc. That drop would've flipped Sojourner, for example, on its back. Being the size of a golf cart, Spirit has some advantages in this area. But as it's more massive, it has its own set of problems, as I've also commented on.
I also agree with the poster who states that the real danger is as much political as it is technical. But MER's operators probably aren't thinking that. Managers, yes. Engineers and scientists, probably not.
MER's wheels stood a pretty good chance of getting "hung up" in the bags. If you remember Sojourner's wheels, which were studded with little metal cone-shaped spikes, you'll understand why operators were concerned.
MER doesn't have those spikes, but its wheels have sharp edges - besides, MER's several times more massive than little Sojourner...a whole different driving experience, to bastardize a BMW ad-line.
It's be like sending a sportscar 37 million miles only to get it stuck in the mud. That's exactly what NASA didn't need this year. Now, if only the next rover can enter Mars's atmosphere without a hitch, we'll be alright.
Of course, he used the word "bogosity," not to mention grep (albeit anecdotally) in the more-or-less canonical way.
If that ain't Jargon, then I don't know what is. Of course, I knew exactly what he was talking about, so I'll just shut up now.
That should have been spelled "paleomagnetism," of course sorry about that.
Coffee in my keyboard, heh.
I, too, agree with those who have cited the period nature of these types of events.
The scientific tracking of this phenomenon - within the bounds of a burgeoning field called paleomegnetism - has shown that such events have been seen already.
If I remember correctly, the seafloor around the Mid-Altantic Ridge shows local magnetic field lines (embedded in rock) that exhibit directional reversal on a regular basis. The regular, gradual creation of new seafloor on both sides of this band of spreading magma locks in the direction of Earth's general magnetic field at the time of formation - showing, some think, that these occurrences are regular and repeatable.
And yes, we're definitely overdue. But, we're also overdue for a planet-killing asteroid impact, so I guess there's nothing to worry about. What's a little field instability among friends?
It should be noted, however, that there is some notion that periods during which magnetic shielding is lost probably does wonders for increasing evolutionary branching. Think of all the natural selection that gets done under such extreme environmental pressure...
Sorry for the ramble. IANAP, by the way, but IAAPT (teacher).
Speaking of warflying/driving/walking, it looks like this is an accident waiting to happen.
A city of 50,000 people jumping on the WiFi bandwagon is going to leave a lot of personal information out in the open. Not to mention the free surfing opportunities.
Cerritos. The Web-Jacker's Paradise.
Tourism's gonna soar, I'll tell you what. I noticed that the article doesn't mention how much this will actually cost, either. Hmm.
Um, that "White" may have been "Kimball," based on some evidence. But I could've sworn it was White. I must be thinking of Apollo 1. Damn real-life.
Everybody knows they already tried this with long-distance space travel. The problem wasn't freezing people, it was getting HAL to look after them.
Duh.
Besides, didn't we just leave this party?
In that case, then, could you imagine what a strong, localized earthquake would do to the local squirrel population?
It'd be like a bunch of icepacks with fur.
I think the fact that supercooling proceeds to completion at all is a sign that there's something else going on.
I would think the problem would be warming up after the hibernation period was over. The squirrel has to retain enough stored energy to complete this process.
Come to think of it, as long as its body fluid doesn't freeze, the required energy remains minimal - melting is what hogs up so much energy. Now, the supercooling without freezing; that suggests that squirrel blood has a very low concentration of dissolved solids - or, like a previous poster suggested, has some kind of antifreeze in there.
Because, with enough small particles for the freezing process to "grab on" to, BAM. Squirrel-cicle.
I just have to add one thing, in reference to the original article:
Duh."PETA's Chandna said it may be difficult to translate this information into human applications. "I think squirrels are very different from us..."
It's not the magnetosphere directly that protects Earth, but its shape, too...the van Allen belts are evidence that an effective barrier 'traps' the incoming particles, rather than deflects them away, a'la "magnetic bottles".
I'm not sure if a small ship-sized field would be enough. Sure, you could generate one (especially with nuclear power, but its total energy content would be nothing close to Earth's.
Question: do the van Allen belts actually contribute to shielding themselves?