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Opportunity frees itself from Martian sand dune
The Monterey Herald ^ | June 4, 2005 | Associated Press

Posted on 06/04/2005 8:49:17 PM PDT by FreedomCalls

PASADENA, Calif. - The Mars rover Opportunity has freed itself after nearly five weeks of being mired in a sandy dune, NASA confirmed Saturday.

Engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the mission, cheered when images beamed back to Earth Saturday morning showed the wheels of the robotic explorer were free, project manager Jim Erickson said.

Some engineers planned to celebrate with a barbecue. "I do plan on bringing a few bottles of champagne," Erickson said.

"We've got a working rover on Mars that cost $400 million to build and ... keep working," he added. "I'd like to wear it out rather than lose it."

A photograph taken by Opportunity and posted on JPL's Web site showed the long tracks of its wheels crossing a featureless dune on the Meridiani plains, in the southern hemisphere.

The six-wheeled robot slid in the fine dust and sand on April 26 during a planned 295-foot trip as it tried to cross a foot-high dune. Its wheels went more than hub deep into soil that Erickson said had the consistency of talcum powder or confectioner's sugar.

Engineers spent weeks with an Opportunity mockup figuring out what commands to give the robot to free it, but the maneuvers took time.

The rover inched forward less than a foot in a month, losing most of its traction every time it tried to roll.

"It's kind of like we were swimming through it," Erickson said.

On Saturday morning, though, data showed that Opportunity was free at last, having moved several feet across the dune.

It won't be going anywhere for a while, though. Erickson said engineers want to be sure the rover won't encounter any more patches that could trap it again. It will be Monday or Tuesday night before engineers feel comfortable enough to order a test drive, he said.

Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, have been exploring opposite sides of Mars since landing in January 2004. Both rovers have discovered what scientists said are signs that the dry planet once had water and perhaps a shallow, ancient sea. The robots continue to explore and have long outlasted their primary, three-month missions.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: exploration; mars; nasa; opportunity; robots; rover; rovers; space
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Wooo Hooo!
1 posted on 06/04/2005 8:49:18 PM PDT by FreedomCalls
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To: FreedomCalls

All six wheels on the surface!

2 posted on 06/04/2005 8:50:06 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: FreedomCalls

Maybe it got a little push from....someone?


3 posted on 06/04/2005 8:52:01 PM PDT by lawnguy (But we both know I'm training to be a cage fighter.)
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To: FreedomCalls
I never knew it was even stuck. I'm glad it's free now.

Thanks for the picture.

4 posted on 06/04/2005 8:52:35 PM PDT by SIDENET ("You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.")
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To: FreedomCalls
rover home page: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
5 posted on 06/04/2005 8:53:14 PM PDT by solitas (So what if I support a platform that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.3.7)
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To: FreedomCalls

I'm glad it didn't turn into a lost Opportunity. :)


6 posted on 06/04/2005 8:53:28 PM PDT by 4mycountry (This tag dedicated to ~ The Legend of Zelda 2005)
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To: FreedomCalls

Wonderful!


7 posted on 06/04/2005 8:57:13 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer
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To: FreedomCalls

This is no big deal. I had to do this last year on the Outer Banks. :O)


8 posted on 06/04/2005 8:57:30 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Delenda est Liberalism!)
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To: SIDENET
I never knew it was even stuck.

It was mired up to over its axles.

9 posted on 06/04/2005 8:57:54 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

These girls need your help.

http://www.carstuckgirls.com/


10 posted on 06/04/2005 8:58:32 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: lawnguy

From a good ol' Martian on a tractor?


11 posted on 06/04/2005 8:59:14 PM PDT by SmithL (Proud Submariner)
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To: FreedomCalls

LOL! Oh yes, they do!


12 posted on 06/04/2005 9:02:11 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Delenda est Liberalism!)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

If you were in the same place I was stuck on the Outer Banks, you didn't have 4 wheel drive, and you ignored the signs not to drive across certain dunes......


13 posted on 06/04/2005 9:30:00 PM PDT by ZOTnot (Nov 3: 'I WILL NOT gloat'; 'I WILL NOT gloat'; 'I WILL NOT gloat': [4 MORE YEARS!])
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To: FreedomCalls
Opportunity frees itself

Did it knock first?

14 posted on 06/04/2005 9:31:33 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: FreedomCalls

Caught in a sandtrap on Mars. Should have brought the wedge as well as the driver.


15 posted on 06/04/2005 9:32:54 PM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: 4mycountry

Good one!


16 posted on 06/04/2005 9:37:54 PM PDT by skr (May God bless those in harm's way and confound those who would do the harming)
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To: FreedomCalls

AAA Platinum plan is getting better these days....


17 posted on 06/04/2005 9:38:20 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: FreedomCalls

Ole....that's some good stuff!


18 posted on 06/04/2005 9:47:22 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
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To: 4mycountry

I'm glad it didn't turn into a lost Opportunity. :)

It only comes once in a blue moon too.


19 posted on 06/04/2005 9:53:31 PM PDT by moog
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To: FreedomCalls

Them are 2 tough little energizer buggies scooting around on the Red Planet.

Thanks for the post. Glad to see Opportunity back on the loose.


20 posted on 06/04/2005 10:25:55 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
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