NASA's Opportunity and Spirit rovers touched down on Mars in 2004 for a planned 90-day tour; six years and a few
serious snags later, the latter of the two is facing its death of cold. Since March 22, 2010, Spirit's been slumbering on the surface -- stuck and unable to generate enough power to communicate -- and while internal heaters and a favorable position on a sun-facing slope allowed the rover to survive previous Martian winters, this time the chances aren't so good. "The rover is experiencing the coldest temperatures it's ever been in – equivalent to about minus 55 degrees Celsius," NASA told
Space.com. Should Spirit wake up next year, it will resume a stationary mission to help scientists determine whether Mars has a liquid core, but if not there's always the chance it might
spontaneously regain power still find utility in
another decade or four. Still not on the docket: ever returning home.
posted August 2nd 2010 7:12AM
They should've included a hibernate setting.
@yeoldgreat1
Or find a Ton-Ton to cut open.
@ok old news again
you should write a book 'how to be an a-hole'
@ok old news again
Just becuase you surf the internet 20 hrs a day in your moms basement doesnt mean that I have read this news.
Still, even if it doesnt make it this time, considering it was designed to live 90 days and its chugging 6 years later makes me think NASA should start building cars...
@ok old news again
Sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays
@yeoldgreat1
XKCD image FTW.
@From My Cube
You sir, win
Johnny5 don't got shit on the Rover
a good article about NASA because I am a fan of NASA, thanks for the information
love the pic - where's it from?
@mrqs http://xkcd.com/695/
@mrqs XKCD. It's one of the saddest comics ever. http://xkcd.com/695/
@Mailia
awww
@shortcipher Everytime I read that particular one, I nearly start to cry. It's really sad... especially the Alt Text(mouse over)
@mrqs
It's weird how this inanimate object really makes some of us feel bad for it. The comic is great - it conveys well how sad it is that this machine is still chugging along. You want to be able to bring it back.
Engadget has actually taught me something today. I've been wondering for a while whether Mars has a liquid core because some say it does and some say it doesn't. Looks like it hasn't been confirmed either way.
@fais
I think the current understanding is that since the magnetic fields are really messed up that it doesn't have a liquid core. But, scientists are willing to be proven wrong if new information and facts are discovered.
I would have considered considering helping it survive. But its against Empire policy to protect or save Robots and Gungans
@Lord Vader
Surely you could make an exception, Lord Vader? After all, you are part machine?
@Lord Vader
The man makes a good point, Lord....
@Lord Vader
...and Ewoks...
Coldest Winter Yet?
Someone send Algore to Mars with a Power Point, STAT!
YOU USED AN IMAGE FROM XKCD!!!
Sean Hollister, will you marry me?
You know, the little part about spontaneously waking up must be a joke. Otherwise a massive misunderstanding between someone beaming a laser at something shiny but dead and the Russian probe sending a laser to earth after being dead 40 years, which it definitely did not.
why dont they send Spirit to Opportunity and it might use its instruments over Spirit to clean, shake, shock etc. i dont know how far they are to each other.
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/mission/traverse_maps.html
how about they race spirit over some jump to shed hard deposited dirt on panels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mars_Spirit_rover's_solar_panels_covered_with_Dust_-_October_2007.jpg
Vs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_rover#Erebus_crater 2006pic
@mi1400
The rovers are thousands of miles apart. They it takes hours to receive comands to move. And it takes days to move just a couple feet. So Spirt can get swiffered on or about July 7th 3154.
Horrible idea.
Awww poor little fellow
Wall-E 2: Mars attacks
"Still not on the docket: ever returning home."
Personally, I look forward to seeing this in the Smithsonian someday when I'm old and grey.
Given it was suppose to have a 90 day mission that started back in 2004, I would saying eventually failing midway through 2010 is doing pretty good. 6 years in an inhospitable environment surviving on solar and battery power isn't a bad run.
I wouldn't say it will never come back. 100 years from now I can see us going through the trouble of bringing one of the rovers back from Mars once there is a permanent colony there and putting it in the Smithsonian.
@CanyonCarver Assuming aliens haven't enhanced it and sent it back to earth to kill us all that is......wait. That needs to be the next Jerry Bruckheimer movie. They bring back the rover in 2046, put it in a museum, it comes to life and starts killing everyone. A crack special forces team lead by Sean Connery and Michael Biehn is sent in to take it out. Que the slow walking actors and epic themed music. The first person to die is Steve Guttenberg as the janitor. We'll call it Short Circuit 3: Rise of the Rovers. With special introduction by Steve Buscemi. Because all movies need to have Buscemi in it. Even if its just an introduction. Have I had enough caffeine today? I think not. More please, thank you. I loves da java!
Sounds like a remake of Star Trek: The Motion Picture with "SPRT" substituted for "VGER." God I'm a nerd...
@John Doe
You'll have to find another leading man. Sean Connery will be dead by then.
Kind of sad, now that I think of it.
@h311r47
Don't feel too bad, that's EXACTLY what I thought.
Spirit was getting a little testy anyway...
http://www.theonion.com/articles/mars-rover-beginning-to-hate-mars,2072/
Awww poor little guy. All he needs is a warm cup of hot chocolate and a thermal blanket and he'd be all right. Where's a Starbuck's when you need one. Geesh. I thought they were everywhere at this point.
@John Doe Martians don't drink coffee. Starbucks has no reason to set up shop on Mars.
Must. Find. Water.