Mars Rover's Grinder Failed to Nick Rock Because Motor Stalled

AP ^ | Mar. 8, 2004

[nuconvert]

Mars Rover's Grinder Failed to Nick Rock Because Motor Stalled

Mar 8, 2004

The Associated Press

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - NASA engineers figured out why a grinding tool on the Mars rover Opportunity failed to even leave a mark on a rock that scientists had targeted during the weekend. The grind motor in the rock abrasion tool stalled, most likely because of dust and dirt, as well as temperature variations, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement Monday.

Tests confirmed that the motor's voltage can be safely increased to prevent a future stall, the lab said.

Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, use the rock abrasion tools to grind through surface layers so that other instruments can determine the mineral composition. The tools have been essential in helping scientists conclude there is evidence of water sometime in the past at both rover sites.

Before Opportunity's martian day ended Monday morning, it placed a spectrometer on a rock target called "Mojo 2" and also used its panoramic and navigation cameras to prepare for study of a future target named "Berry Bowl."

The bowl-like depression contains a number of curious round objects that scientists have called "blueberries." Scientists hope that "Berry Bowl" will have enough of the spherules in close proximity to allow the rover's instruments to determine their composition.

[nuconvert]

Not as tough a rock as first thought, I guess.

[farmfriend]

ping

[Psycho_Bunny]

The grind motor in the rock abrasion tool stalled, most likely because of dust and dirt, as well as temperature variations,

I don't want to cast aspersions on the NASA team for their obviously incredible achievements with the rovers so far but....didn't they know they know this grinder was going to Mars?

>:P

[nuconvert]

Where there goes the Kryptonite theory.

[mylife]

Ommigod...this is the Haliburton technology that so many railed against...we gots troubles now...LOL

[mylife]

as well as temperature variations

extreme temps will doo ya.. and although I FULLY tested some Items a month ago they failed this week

[The Radical Capitalist]

Yep...swap out the 3.6V for the 7.2V rechargable battery, just like my Black& Decker power drill.

[Enduring Freedom]

Occasionally, when I'm attempting to grind, my motor stalls.

My wife says maybe I'm dirty and need a shower.

But if your wife had a face like a rock, you'ld stall too.

[Smokin' Joe]

Did they use the wrong lubricant? (not rated for the cold?)

Shouldn't their onboard computer be monitoring the amps the motor draws? They'd get a spike on startup, followed by a steady level, unless the contact pressure was too high or something else stalled the motor.

At least they'd know the problem wasn't Kryptonite...

[mylife]

They'd get a spike on startup, followed by a steady level,

Followed by smoke! LOL

[Constitution Day]

You just have to check out the links below.

Spirit and Opportunity apparently have their own blogs now.

spirit rover

~*~opportunity~*~

Monday, March 8th, 2004
9:09 am	don't worry! I just couldn't grind that rock, okay? It was tougher than I thought it would be! There's nothing wrong with me!! Now NASA wants to run all these tests. When are they going to stop treating me like Spirit?! You'd think on a planet this big I could avoid living in Spirit's shadow, but nooooooo. It's just not fair! Current Mood: irritated

[nuconvert]

LoL

[nuconvert]

lol.
should have guessed they would.

[Smokin' Joe]

Maybe! But most electric motors I have worked with draw more amps for a moment when they start, then steady out at a lower rate once turning. If the spike keeps going up or fails to drop to operational levels, this indicates a problem with the unit (bad bearings, bad motor, excess mechanical load), and usually trips a breaker.

Would there be "smoke" as we know it in a low O2 atmosphere?, or just volatilized (not oxidized) material?