http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/ Engadget Comments for NASA won't dampen exploratory spirit of Mars rovers http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/They were only designed to last what, 3-6 months. (who says
Americans can't design quality!)

]]>Mar 25th 2008 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
iPod for example
"Designed in Cupertino California, Manufactured in China"]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
And the reason they lasted much longer than anticipated is because they expected the solar panels to be dusted over after 3-6 months and lose power...it turns out that the panels being the height they are off the ground, the dust blows off them pretty easily. So they made sure everything would work for at least 3-6 months, and didn't test them much further than that.]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
And never call robots "the twins" again. That's grounds for banishment.

What a great chance for some advanced robotics lab to get their hands on some bad ass robots. MIT grads would eat it up. right?]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 10:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
You might just learn a thing or two. ]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
There's nothing wrong with wanting certain programs funded, but at the same time you can recognize when you're being manipulated.]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
The fact is that the twin rovers are currently operated on a shoestring budget. The loss of funding and its impact to science activity on the rovers is REAL. After years of budget cuts, the money-saving tricks are used up. The team operating the rovers is at the top of their game, doing world-class exploration for next to nothing. I mean, $4 million is comparatively very little compared to what the war currently costs taxpayers -- $341.4 million per *day*.

If anyone should be at fault for manipulation, it is NASA HQ and the current administration. Shame on them. ]]>Mar 25th 2008 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/It would be interesting if they were still semi-functional when humans make it to Mars. I wonder what we'll do with Viking and these rovers as well as all of the stuff left on the moon when we're able to recover it?]]>Mar 25th 2008 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/
But given that they've been working many times over their designed lifespan and have found out so much about the history of Mars, I'm going to have to just say wait and see.

(Hint: not all breakthroughs need to be seeing little green men come out from behind a rock.)]]>Mar 25th 2008 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 25th 2008 4:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/Mar 26th 2008 11:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/nasa-wont-dampen-exploratory-spirit-of-mars-rovers/


]]>Mar 26th 2008 11:45AM