Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Last Panorama of the Spirit Rover on Mars

NASA ^ | May 30, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, NASA, JPL, Cornell; Image Processing: Kenneth Kremer, Marco Di Lorenzo] Explanation: This is the last thing that the Spirit rover on Mars ever saw. Operating years beyond original expectations, Spirit eventually got mired in martian dirt and then ran out of power when investigating the unusual Home Plate surface feature on Mars. Visible in the above panorama are numerous rocks and slopes of the surrounding Columbia Hills of Mars. The strange hill with the light colored top, visible near the top center of the image, has been dubbed von Braun and was a future destination when Spirit got bogged down. A leading hypothesis holds that von Braun is related to martian volcanism. Last week, NASA stopped trying to contact Spirit after numerous attempts. Half a world away, Spirit's sister rover Opportunity continues to roll toward Endeavour Crater, which could become the largest crater yet visited by an earthling-created robot.

[bigheadfred]

That's me, waiting for Mr. Right.

Anyone that scary looking is bound to wait a long long time.

Run away Larry. RUN AWAY!

[Daffynition]

Funny you should mention it. There was a meeting of the FR AdminMods, b/c someone reported me to them, b/c to the FReeper I was bat-sh!t crazy, and I *frightened* them. FWIW, they *still* don't know what to do with me, now that high school is out for the summer. ;D

[colorado tanker]

Great thread! LOL!

But seriously, those rovers succeeded way beyond anyone's expectations. Well done!

[Daffynition]

Thanks. I'm probably the only person on this forum who is pro-NASA and space exploration.

[colorado tanker]

Well, there are at least two of us and I think a lot more. Join up with KevinDavis and the space ping list and you'll find more kindred spirits.