Not bad for a mission that was supposed to last only 3 months.
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NASA Fears Mars Rover Lost

Posted by Staff on Apr 1st, 2011 // No Comment


After an entire year of hearing nothing from the Mars rover named Spirit, NASA believes the robot is gone for good. Two robots were placed on the planet in January of 2004. The Spirit and Opportunity are robotic devices with six wheels and about the size of a golf cart.
The original mission for the rovers was expected to last about three months. The Spirit and Opportunity were placed on the planet in the search for water or signs water had been present in the past. They have been able to provide scientists with a wealth of information and have definitely found signs water had indeed flowed on the red planet at some time.
In 2006, a right front wheel on the Spirit was damaged. This made it difficult for the robot to get around the planetary surface and in May 2009, the robot became permanently stuck in soft sand. Scientists used readings from Spirit’s stationary position until March 22, 2010. Scientists hoped the powerful solar energy that would hit Spirit earlier this month would essentially wake up the robot. NASA experts say if they do not hear from Spirit by the end of April, they will be forced to acknowledge the robot’s demise.

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"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36

awww... a valiant little guy to the end

Awwww...

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__________________
"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36

Awwww...

Have you seen the Wallace and Grommit film A Grand Day Out? The oven wins the "fictional character I'd most like to take home" prize every time.

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