spacetoday.net: Spirit suffers wheel problem

Posted: Wed, Jun 16, 2004, 8:06 AM ET (1206 GMT)
Mars Exploration Rover (NASA/JPL)

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has encountered a problem with one of its six wheels, although spacecraft engineers believe the problem can be overcome. Project officials said Tuesday that the right front wheel on Spirit is drawing two to three times as much electrical current as the other five wheels, suggesting that it is suffering from some kind of degradation. Engineers there may be ways to work around the problem, such as powering the wheel only when needed to turn, or to just allow the wheel to continue to operate when it fails, and rely on the remaining five wheels. Engineers also plan to heat up the gearbox in the wheel's motor in the hopes of improving its lubrication and reduce the amount of power needed. Spirit is now at the edge of the Columbia Hills, having traveled over three kilometers from its landing site in Gusev Crater.