Free Spirit: Exploring Options

JPL engineers are trying out maneuvers with a test rover on Earth, to plan an escape on Mars for Spirit.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mars
• Exploration
• Rover
• JPL
• NASA
• Spirit
• Opportunity
• red
• planet
• Free
• solar
• system
• embedded

[JPLnews]

Mars Rover Scientist Ray Arvidson regarding soil:

"The layers have basaltic sand, sulfate-rich sand and areas with the addition of silica-rich materials, possibly sorted by wind and cemented by the action of thin films of water. We're still at a stage of multiple working hypotheses,"

[Aiden057]

Tell us more about the soil samples, please.

[drVitall]

2 month on Mars no movement and they haven't found time to shoot color panorama of the place

;(

[murraykat]

The soil looks wet!!!!!

[raosn]

it is amazing what JPL is doing.

[JerryLehane3]

The Micro-Imager underside shots were the smart way to go to diagnose the problems.I'd suggest doing more of those same shots using low sun angles for more info using shadows as guides to depth and obstructions.The survival of this rover mission depends on making the right moves or even the right sequence of moves.If the ObstructingMiddleWheelRockIsTo­oBig Threat,TurnMidLeftWtoLEFTwhile­Exerting4WheelTugToward45'Righ­t,thenWithTorQueTurnMidWheelRi­ghtToJumpTheHumpBaseRockForTra­ction.Then5WheelsRight

[JerryLehane3]

The advantage of 1997 spiked wheels on Sojourner was sacrificed for speed and mileage on S&OP. It's a tradeoff if a wheel dies,dragging spikes vs. a more rounded wheel.Traction is pulverized dust is much les with these wheels,so they need o make contact wih any solid rocks to boost out of the ruts(self-dug).It seems these wheels with "low grip" need to work in the same direction and in unison for more traction.I suggest 45 degrees front right turn all wheels.Crab moves don't climb out of ruts.

[DippyWippySippy]

Showing my love, keep at it. ;)

[IdoloR]

lol your right, my brain totally blanked the fact that they have a test rover in the sand box, bahaha *face palms self*

[CooLDsteR]

they can try it there in the sand box. It's for Exploring Options, right? =) Put it to good use.

[IdoloR]

you would think they'd fit it with some more 'enthusiastic' looking wheels