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Mars team teaches old rovers new tricks
SpaceFlight Now ^
| December 29, 2006
| NASA/JPL NEWS RELEASE
Posted on 12/30/2006 2:12:11 PM PST by Unmarked Package
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The saga of exploration continues for the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Now in operation for 12 times longer than originally planned, the intrepid little rovers are not only surviving into old age they are getting smarter! For longevity and new discoveries, this project is surely one of the greatest success stories in the history of unmanned space exploration.
To: Unmarked Package; KevinDavis
Kevin, could you please put me back on the ping list. Thanks.
2
posted on
12/30/2006 2:13:59 PM PST
by
AntiKev
("No damage. The world's still turning isn't it?" - Stereo Goes Stellar - Blow Me A Holloway)
To: Unmarked Package
Still going
3
posted on
12/30/2006 2:14:36 PM PST
by
Trueblackman
(Terrorism and Liberalism never sleep and neither do I)
To: Unmarked Package
4
posted on
12/30/2006 2:26:26 PM PST
by
ikka
To: Unmarked Package
"...the intrepid little rovers are not only surviving into old age they are getting smarter!"
Viger?
5
posted on
12/30/2006 2:29:36 PM PST
by
blam
To: Unmarked Package
6
posted on
12/30/2006 2:35:26 PM PST
by
A. Pole
(Hugo Chavez: "Huele a azufre, pero Dios está con nosotros")
To: blam
"Viger?" Hah! That thought crossed my mind too. Let's hope they don't get so smart that they become self aware and start chasing down future Mars landers to "sterilize" them! I don't think we have anything to worry about on that score.
7
posted on
12/30/2006 2:36:37 PM PST
by
Unmarked Package
(Amazing surprises await us under cover of a humble exterior.)
To: Unmarked Package
Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are, together, one of the greatest triumphs of the US space program. Absolutely amazing accomplishment.
8
posted on
12/30/2006 2:39:34 PM PST
by
My2Cents
("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
To: Unmarked Package
Makes me think of the old plaque my grand parents had that went something like "Too soon old and too late schmart". (but in the opposite!)
9
posted on
12/30/2006 2:39:41 PM PST
by
geopyg
(Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
To: Unmarked Package
I believe the Mars rover software is written in Java. Eat your heart out, Gates.
10
posted on
12/30/2006 2:39:54 PM PST
by
IronJack
(=)
To: Unmarked Package
The Rovers are the coolest thing since the Apollo program when I was a kid.
To: Unmarked Package
Spirit & Opportunity are the equivalent of "beaters:" they just keep going and going, no matter what you do to them. Amazing.
12
posted on
12/30/2006 2:57:17 PM PST
by
Othniel
(Mohammad: False Prophet and Smeghead Deluxe....)
To: Unmarked Package
start chasing down future Mars landers to "sterilize" them!Hah. I'm watching 2001: A Space Odyssey on DVD. Hal just set the other crew member adrift !
13
posted on
12/30/2006 3:00:03 PM PST
by
csvset
To: Unmarked Package
Let's hope they don't get so smart that they become self aware and start chasing down future Mars landers to "sterilize" them! "I am Nomad!"
14
posted on
12/30/2006 3:00:13 PM PST
by
6SJ7
To: IronJack
SGI got them there and operating!
15
posted on
12/30/2006 3:00:18 PM PST
by
Issaquahking
(Trust can't be bought)
To: Unmarked Package; Toddsterpatriot; Mase; nopardons; expat_panama
I read this with my mouth falling progressively more open. This article should be read aloud to the children of all the legionnaires-of-doom, who do not wish to send them to Engineering School.
16
posted on
12/30/2006 3:17:53 PM PST
by
1rudeboy
To: Issaquahking
SGI got them there and operating! Now THERE'S a company with a troubled history!
17
posted on
12/30/2006 3:17:54 PM PST
by
IronJack
(=)
To: My2Cents
Anyone interested in the Rovers should read Steve Sqyres book "Roving Mars" - really describes the trials and tribulations of the project (both design and funding.) It was a very rushed project that went through a lot of design changes.
To: IronJack
Gads, does SGI even exist anymore? Possibly the worst investment I've ever made.
19
posted on
12/30/2006 3:18:58 PM PST
by
1rudeboy
To: Unmarked Package
The rovers were kind of autonomous in the beginning. It could be a blast working on the software, upgrading it so the rovers think better and better. It's as good as having a new spacecraft when a software update is loaded. Robotics!
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