NASA's Mars Opportunity rover falls on hard times

NASA's Mars Opportunity rover has already long outlasted its original 90 day mission, but it looks like the go-getter bot is now really starting to show its age, as NewScientist reports that problems with two key instruments have left the rover "crippled and blinded." As NewScientist points out, however, these latest issues are far from the first to plague Opportunity (and its counterpart, Spirit), and it's still suffering from a malfunctioning wheel and an "arthritic" robotic arm, both problems of which first cropped up in 2005. While NASA has currently suspended all work involving the rover's rock grinding tool and its infrared spectrometer, it's apparently hoping to get the spectrometer back up and running by shaking off some of the dust causing the problems, and at least one NASA official expects both rovers to keep "going for years more."

[Satish @ Nov 16th 2007 2:38PM]

Those damn Martians..I know it's them..

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 2:38PM]

i think it's awesome that the little guy is still chugging along.

didn't the english send something along at about the same time? didn't it fail miserably? what was it called? ferret or something?

[Alex @ Nov 16th 2007 2:40PM]

Beagle, and yup, it had a "hard landing" ... guess they could call it the Bugger now

[CharlieX @ Nov 16th 2007 2:40PM]

Badger. Or Hedgehog. And it totally ate shit. Wasn't it supposed to play some Bloop-bloop-bleep signal that Blur composed? damn you Blur!

[TrentD @ Nov 16th 2007 2:52PM]

No, remember, the Decepticons killed Beagle - it was in Transformers.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 3:01PM]

I don't know if I'm the only one here that feels the need to restructuralize NASA. I feel that even though the rovers have done well beyond there expected duties I find it hard to believe that billions of dollars was pour into this project and all they conger up are few months to a year out of these machine. I believe that private companies can do way better jobs than NASA with even lesser funding. I feel we should start to privatize the space industry. maybe we can get more than a few miles out of these machines per day rather than a few feets.

[CraigJ @ Nov 16th 2007 3:12PM]

Spirit landed on Jan. 3 and is slated to scour the Gusev crater, near Mars' equator, for three months. Its twin, Opportunity, is due to land Saturday. The combined mission cost is $820 million.January 2004 to now is 34 months. Almost 3 years. So... I'm not sure what "few months" long multi-billion dollar project you are talking about.

Source: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/spirit_talks_040123.html

[thesawzall @ Nov 16th 2007 3:15PM]

Well they've come a long way from some of the earlier probes that just landed there and only lasted for a couple of hours at best.

Remember Mars is only a little rockier, dustier, and generally more harsh than your backyard. And it's only a couple thousand or so miles farther away.

Sure NASA Could use some restructuring, but I think the accomplishments of these 2 things have been pretty amazing. I say we mount a rescue mission. Leave no man, er...robot behind.

[Bizam! @ Nov 16th 2007 3:13PM]

What are you talking about?! This is actually one of the biggest NASA success stories. Both of these rovers were originally intended to function for about 90 days, they've been driving around on Mars for almost 4 years now! It's only expected that they're going to start having problems at this point.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 3:13PM]

restructuralization?

you're an idiot.

science run solely by private companies? yeah, we could hire SPECTRE

[CraigJ @ Nov 16th 2007 3:34PM]

Sorry for bad math. more like 4 years as pointed out by Bizam. I suck at date math...

[BradVT @ Nov 16th 2007 3:38PM]

I think the point Total is trying to make is that why design something that cost 800 million dollars to last only 90 days. Yeah, it has exceeded that expected lifespan by a lot, but it would make more sense to design a long term robot that could be expected to last for years. Thats what I think at least.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 3:41PM]

Sorry for being an idiot because i spelled one word wrong.

As for the topic, Ya i feel that this current mission is a great success story, but out of how many failure? Think of it this way if Microsoft was the only OS on the market you think they are going to consistently try to work better by producing better products and conserve spending as they go? I feel NASA in essence is almost the same thing. Of course you have Russia and China, but they are somewhat behind. I just feel that privatizing most the space industry is lead to better productivity for mankind.


Also as for the rover ya they lasted very long but in that time what have they accumulated? a few samples of data? Of course we can argue about the measurements of achievement, but my main more is open the gates for "privatization."

Also I feel this will lead to more job opportunities, by having more people in the industry we can covert all that raw data that have been accumulated into something productive for mankind. And not for the benefit of one government or country.

[Jimmy Hoffa @ Nov 16th 2007 4:05PM]

If I'd seen an example of this private-company efficiency of which you speak I'd be a little more interested, but as far as I can tell, private companies as large as would be necessary to run these kind of operations (and stick around to gather the information) are all as bloated as the government.

What's more, private companies would all want to keep the rewards for their efforts (i.e., information) in the hopes that it would bring them future riches, so we'd add intellectual property issues to the mix of problems.

While I definitely see a role for private companies in space travel/exploration, I feel pretty strongly that the infrastructure is best put in place by NASA.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 3:47PM]

BTW. For crying out loud the Japanese built bumblebee, i mean come on, we should be able to build something way better than that.

:chuckle:

[Mark Richardson @ Nov 16th 2007 3:58PM]

@muddyh2o
If you think the government can anything other than national security better than private companies, you need to put down the KoolAid, buddy.

[jderman @ Nov 16th 2007 4:49PM]

total, brad. I think you got it right here. this is a case of nasa taking a page from the corporate playbook 'underpromise and overdeliver' vs. the standard nasa overpromise, underdeliver, and overbudget...

Still quite an achievement (and a good investment as well). I bet that $820 million price tag could have been a lil' lower.

[rocketman @ Nov 16th 2007 4:13PM]

@ BradVT

You, sir, obviously do not know the first thing about designing spacecraft. Do you honestly think it is easy to design, build, and operate a robot that travels to another PLANET to achieve "years" of reliability? There is a reason it's called rocket science.

As for the cost.. that is the TOTAL cost. Current operations is a small *fraction* of that figure. The expensive part is paid for, it would be dumb not to run these rovers into the ground.

Folks, this country spends more in one MONTH on the War than it has on the whole Mars Rover mission. That tells you something about where our priorities are ... [sigh]

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 4:26PM]

@Jimmy Hoffa

As an example. As much as i do not like apple, even though i own an iphone, and also Google to name a few(neutral stands on them). I have to say these companies have revolutionized many of things we now see in the computer industry. You can't possibly thing the government can do a better job then the what the free market can do? Seriously when did it become so prevalent that government can do a better than the people? We have a great system(not the best)for check and balance on private companies. but we have nothing but the government to keep NASA in check and NASA is the government. I'm sorry to say this but the people in congress cannot possibly truly understand the technology involved and be allowed to approve and deny funding.

Like the saying "just pick the lesser of the two evils." Both have there flaws but in my opinion government should not get involved but only to monitor and help guide the way.

[Dan Jensen @ Nov 17th 2007 8:57AM]

Let's stop the ignorance, shall we? It's not like the US government is holding back the private sector from developing space flight - far from it, in fact. The reason why NASA spends so much on space exploration is because if they didn't, no one else would. Before private enterprise gets involved, you need to show they why it would be worth the investments that so far, only governments have been able to afford.

A private organization doesn't get involved in spaceflight to make Americans feel better about themselves. They are in it to make money.

And I tell you this: If you can prove that there are thousands of tons of gold deposits or diamonds on an asteroid somewhere, the private sector would start designing spaceships faster than you can say Buck Rogers! But until that day, don't be upset that our government pumps so much money into the space program. Because if we didn't, we wouldn't have a space program at all.

[clemonator @ Nov 16th 2007 3:10PM]

@Total...

I think the problem you are going to find privatizing the space industry is where the solid profit is. Typically things like this (especially when the money (some would say) should go to more worthy causes) need to have a solid return in the investment of its shareholders and companies.

Heck even the Spaceship one stuff is only happening because some rich people are giving the majority of the funding.

So like other things like this the Government will fund away... Profit? who needs no stinkin' profit.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 3:28PM]

Space tourism is where profit could be made I believe. Richard Branson is one of the few that is leading the way for privatization of the space industry. Of course you wont see a serious market for it now. In 20-50 years I'm sure there will be a huge market for it. Solid profitability might not be there for the time being, but I believe privatization will lead to more scrutiny of spending. leading to more conservative spending with better results. I always admire what NASA is doing, I know any kid would, but as time passes i feel that the amounts of funding put into NASA each year is not helping mankind. If the computer industry was government controlled do you think we would be where were at today?

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 5:00PM]

actually, i think the profit is to be made in space prisons. imagine the space we could reclaim if we built our prisons on the moon.

[Calviin @ Nov 20th 2007 1:07PM]

@muddyh2o

Are you asking to turn the moon into the next Austrailia?

[scolen2 @ Nov 16th 2007 3:21PM]

earth is the center of the universe, god said so... nah nah nah... i dont want to hear it. /covers eyes.

[Josh L @ Nov 16th 2007 3:46PM]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Juaquin @ Nov 16th 2007 3:55PM]

I think he's trying to be funny.

[scolen2 @ Nov 16th 2007 5:00PM]

Its just rediculous for people to bash a project that shows just how amazing humans are. We started out as people fearful of god and ended up being people who are reacing out to understand the universe. Even if the mission only lasted the 90 days, its still amazing. Any time i've ever been pissed off at people, i watch Apollo 13 and end up being amazed at what we all can do if we stop being douche bags. So, i made a bad joke to start cuase poeple were being douche bags and missing the point. :-)

[Josh L @ Nov 16th 2007 5:45PM]

Really? Every time I watch Apollo 13, I just end up getting pissed at Tom Hanks.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 6:20PM]

if only we could get the people in the middle east to watch apollo 13, all our problems would be solved.

[Calviin @ Nov 20th 2007 1:08PM]

It's not everyday that someone makes a joke about the Geocentric model.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 4:59PM]

@totalfixation - you spelled three words incorrectly. and don't get me started on your grammar.

@mark richardson - well, the government did so well with USPS that they spun them off. i think that same, unique arrangement might help NASA.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 16th 2007 5:43PM]

My grammar or spelling wasn't up for debate, but your comment was idiotic to begin with.

If the post office is so successful why is it requesting funding every year?

The truth of the matter is, the USPS is an essential part of economy, should it be handed to a private firm or firms and go bankrupt. it would essentially corrupt our country. The USPS operates at a lost.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 6:12PM]

they don't ask for money. it's legally mandated to operate with a revenue-neutral status. they have a budget set for them, but operate at a profit (circa US$1bln)

it ain't amtrak. it's also the nation's 3rd largest employer.

[Jamie @ Nov 16th 2007 6:28PM]

I could care less if NASA and all their expensive missions landed and found a McDonalds on Mars.

I'd much rather attend to our planet first.

Before we put a man on Mars, let's put a homeless guy in an apartment.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 16th 2007 7:08PM]

i wish NASA could put a rocket in SecondLife. Forget about Mars. SL is way cooler.

[Zack P. @ Nov 17th 2007 3:57AM]

Id rather put the homeless guy in an apartment on Mars.

[Tacticus @ Nov 21st 2007 2:21PM]

For the money spent on NASA you have worse investments already target those instead of the 4 million needed to run Arecibo for a few more years (i can think of one sucking 11 mil per hour out(and another idiotic program that is grabbing 141 Million this year(Iraq war and Abstinence only education respectively))

Have you had a mammogram or know someone who has?
well congrats NASA helped you there the techniques used to identify cancerous cells in mammograms is around because of a stuff up on the Hubble

In the words of Neil deGrasse Tyson
"You cannot script these kinds of outcomes, yet they occur daily. The cross-pollination of disciplines almost always creates innovation and discovery. And nothing accomplishes this like space exploration, which draws from the ranks of astrophysicists, biologists, physiologists, chemists, engineers and planetary geologists. Their collective efforts have the capacity to improve and enhance all that we have come to value as a modern society."
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_08-05-2007/Space

just remember NASA takes less than 1% of the US budget The US DOD takes 21%

If it was up to people like you we would still be huddling in caves in Africa

[Jamie @ Nov 21st 2007 2:40PM]

Tact, your analogy is a bit simplistic.

Discoveries are made by people and groups with intelligence, not by their employer or location.

[skr @ Nov 16th 2007 7:19PM]

the way they landed those rovers unharmed and the accuracy they did it with is absolutely friggin' amazing. Go watch the landing procedure movie they have on NASAs website if you haven't seen it yet. Huge kudos to the people involved.

[Jacob @ Nov 16th 2007 8:30PM]

Totalfixation, stop making these sweeping declarations. You talk about the post office like it's a railroad where loss is the norm. In fact, the post office has consistently made a profit over the past ten years. It's just recently that they've reported a loss, partly because their e-commerce operations haven't really panned out and because of some large unanticipated operating expenses.

[furball4 @ Nov 16th 2007 11:07PM]

@Jacob

A lot of companies would be profitable if they didn't include their failed e-commerce initiatives and their large, unanticipated operating expenses. And if they were government-enforced monopolies on necessary services, which no one seems to be mentioning. Turning a profit when you're a monopoly doesn't prove anything... but NOT turning one sure does.

[Jacob @ Nov 17th 2007 2:24AM]

That's true. But when you compare the post office to other government agencies and organizations, the USPS is probably one of the more efficient. So the fact that they make any profit at all is pretty amazing. Especially considering the scale they have to operate at. Also, there are many places they actually lose a lot of money because they are required to provide service to everybody and in everyplace. Even if it's a Native American settlement at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. They still deliver the mail by mule train at a cost of $20 per letter. As for unexpected expenses, a recent change in legislation required a three billion dollar outlay.

[EthanP @ Nov 17th 2007 1:39PM]

Those are good points. I wish that success and failure were as apparent for all government agencies as they are for the post office.

[momotarosan @ Nov 18th 2007 6:47PM]

only if it had Duracells....it keeps going, and going...

[Glenn Johnson @ Apr 4th 2008 5:05PM]

martians are scientist? how they do that1? they can even understand there own languages.
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