[Poohbah]

Mars Rover to Use Alternate Ramp

After finding out that the primary ramp was closed due to the Mars Traffic Copter...

[MarkeyD]

Anybody know if this thing has a microphone on it?

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[aBootes]

The rover also completed the first step in standing up to its full height, unfolding its two front wheels and locking them into place.

Good news bump.

[r9etb]

Engineers will now command Spirit to turn in place 120 degrees to its right and roll off a secondary, unobstructed ramp, said Matt Wallace, mission manager.

I really love this little nugget ... it's a window into their design process.

Question: What's the worst thing that could happen?

Answer: The ramp is unuseable for some reason.

Question: What's the best way to avoid the problem?

Answer: Provide other ramps.

Question: Where's the best place to put the other ramps?

... and so on.

[Professional Engineer]

Use Alternate Ramp. The main one is closed due to road construction.

[theDentist]

It took them how many days to decide on using Ramp #2? Don't these guys realize that these machines have a rather short shelf life?

[e_engineer]

This article is worded to make the reader think that carbonates were found already, but all of the NASA sites I checked merely stated that the rover is capable of detecting carbonates.

Any guesses about which carbonates, if any, will be found?

Calcite Group (hexagonal)		Dolomite Group (hexagonal)		AragoniteGroup (orthorhombic)
mineral	formula	mineral	formula	mineral	formula
Calcite	CaCO3	Dolomite	CaMg(CO3)2	Aragonite	CaCO3
Magnesite	MgCO3	Ankerite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2	Witherite	BaCO3
Siderite,	FeCO3	Kutnohorite	CaMn(CO3)2	Strontianite	SrCO3
Rhodochrosite	MnCO3

[js1138]

Time to employ some battlebot drivers.

[ctonious]

Rover to plant notice:

Reward: Lost Beagle. Last seen heading straight down over Martian plains at 12,000 mph. Answers to the name Fifi. If found, please contact ex-Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who promises to drive over to pick up remains.

[tet68]

snapping a sweeping panorama of its surroundings with its color camera. NASA has received 73 percent of that 360-degree view as the rest trickles in,

Is this a problem with the high gain antenna?
I thought that "trickling" was not in the plan.