Posted on 10/24/2005 5:52:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - Spirit, the mountaineering rover that successfully scaled a Martian hill this summer, is searching for flatter ground.
After two months at the summit of Husband Hill, the six-wheeled rover is making its descent toward a basin to the south where it will explore an outcrop dubbed "home plate" that looks like a baseball diamond from orbit.
The solar-powered Spirit's yearlong climb to the peak marked a major feat for the rover, which along with its twin, Opportunity, landed on opposite ends of the Red Planet in 2004 in search of evidence of the past history of water on the cold, dusty planet.
Last month, scientists released the first full-color panoramic photo of the landscape taken by Spirit from the 270-foot-high summit — about the height of the Statue of Liberty. It shows the rover's distinct tracks in the dust, flat plains of the surrounding Gusev Crater region and distant plateaus on the crater rim.
Since reaching the hilltop in late August, Spirit has been busy snapping pictures, studying rocks and using its robotic arm to sift the soil to determine how the hill formed. The leading theory is that Husband Hill became uplifted as a result of crater impact.
Mission scientists say a comparison of the summit rocks reveal similar geologic features to those found on the side of the hill. In both cases, the rock makeup reveal they have been altered by water.
In a twist, Spirit recently uncovered a new set of rocks at the summit that scientists have never seen before. The rocks were made of basalt, a volcanic material, but its composition differs from the basaltic rocks found in the Martian plains, said principal investigator Steve Squyres of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
It will take about two months for Spirit to completely climb down Husband Hill, which is part of the Columbia Hills range in the Gusev crater region. Husband Hill is named after Rick Husband, the astronaut commander of the space shuttle Columbia that disintegrated as it attempted to return to Earth in 2003.
Scientists poring over elevation maps produced by the rover's panoramic camera indicate the descent should be safe for the robotic geologist. Spirit will traverse across ridge lines toward the inner basin and finally to "home plate."
Meanwhile, Opportunity was in good health again after recovering from a recent computer glitch while surveying the Meridiani Planum region.
Opportunity is exploring the northern rim of Erebus Crater, the largest crater between already-explored Endurance Crater and its next destination, Victoria Crater.
The rovers, operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, have long outlasted their primary, three-month missions.
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On the Net:
Mars Rovers: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/
This image captured by NASA's Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope shows Mars when it was approximately 43 million miles (68 million km) from Earth. On Sunday, October 30, the Red Planet will be 69.4 million kilometers (43.1 million miles) from Earth -- a distance that in galactic terms is less than wafer-thin and will not be equalled until 2018.(AFP/NASA/File)
A photograph made from composite images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera shows the Syrtis Major face of planet Mars released by NASA on October 19, 2005. The composite image was made over the period of one Mars year, which is nearly twice as long as an Earth year. NO SALES NO ARCHIVES REUTERS/NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems/Handout
Cosmic Climbing and Timing
July 13, 2005
A poetic cosmic convergence is building to a crescendo: as the first space shuttle flight since the loss of the Shuttle Columbia prepares to fly 200 miles (320 kilometers) above the Earth, the Spirit rover is climbing the last 200 meters (656 feet) toward the summit of the "Columbia Hills" on Mars.
After two years of meticulous preparations for Return to Flight, the Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to fly, and after 19 months of dauntless determination, Spirit is nearing the top of "Husband Hill."
Named after Rick Husband, Commander of the Shuttle Columbia, "Husband Hill" is the tallest among seven hills, each named after the brave souls who flew on Columbia's last mission.
Rover driver Chris Leger remembers Principal Investigator Steve Squyres' enthusiasm about the "Columbia Hills" on Mars. When Spirit first landed in Gusev Crater, the hills were 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away. Enamored with the expansive landscape, Leger recalls Squyres saying, "The real fun will come when we try to climb those mountains." Leger thought, "Yeah right - we don't even know if we can drive 200 meters (656 feet) - the "Columbia Hills" are just a dream!"
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/spirit/20050713.html
Columbia Hills named as memorial on Mars
Seven peaks near Spirit site honor seven astronauts
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4143223/
Just like the Energizer Bunny.
7 hills in Negev, Mitzpe Ramon, named after fallen Columbia astronauts
By Associated Press January 31, 2006
NASA astronauts and the widow of the only Israeli to fly on a space shuttle attended a memorial program Sunday, opening a week dedicated to the seven crew members killed in the Columbia shuttle disaster three years ago.
At the ceremony at the residence of Israeli President Moshe Katsav, seven hills in the Negev desert were named for the astronauts who died Feb. 1, 2003, when the Columbia broke apart during re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, killing all aboard.
Rona Ramon, the widow of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was aboard the Columbia, joined the families of astronauts David Brown, Laurel Clark and Willie McCool, who also perished. Three NASA astronauts who participated in the only shuttle launch since the Columbia tragedy also attended.
Cmdr. Eileen Collins, who was part of the last shuttle flight, said she hopes naming the hills in the Ramon Crater in the Negev after the crew will be an inspiration to all "to continue their mission of exploration and courage."
She said she thinks about the Columbia crew every day.
"I think about them for their great lives, for their love of space flight," she said.
Rona Ramon said she hopes dedicating the hills will show the connection between the natural and human spirit. She also said she wanted to remember the achievements of the crew. The fact that the crater and the late astronaut share the same name is a coincidence.
Israeli officials said they planned to continue to work with NASA. "We have common beliefs and faiths," Katsav said.
Four Israeli space researchers spoke about their work at the event, sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology. This is the third year Ramon has helped organize a Columbia memorial day.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli acting prime minister Ehud Olmert met with Ramon, the families of other Columbia victims and the visiting astronauts.
"The memory of Ilan Ramon is in every heart," Olmert said in a statement. "He was a source of pride to Israel."
Protective foam fell off Columbia's external fuel tank, hitting the shuttle, leading to its disintegration, a NASA investigation found.
http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Diplomacy/7685.htm
Reminds me of when
the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass
Situated in the Mount Negev area in the centre of the Negev Desert, west to road 80, 40 km south to Be'er Sheva and 150 km north to Eilat, Local Council Mitzpe Ramon (meaning Ramon Observatory) is sitting on the edge of the magnificent Ramon Crater. Est. 1956. Pop: 6,200. I was notified by the Local Council that the flag is white with emblem. The municipal emblem was published in the official gazette (Rashumot), 'Publications Gazette' section (Yalkut ha'Pirsumim), YP 1816, 13 April 1972
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