Spirit finds Martian bedrock
Posted: Sun, Jul 18, 2004, 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT)
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, moving backwards to deal with a faulty wheel, has encountered a bedrock outcrop that may contain some of the oldest rocks found yet during the mission. Spirit, which has traveled over 3.5 kilometers since landing in Gusev Crater, is now traveling backwards because of increased friction with the rover's right front wheel. By moving backward rover controllers effective drag the balky wheel along, rotating it only occasionally in rough terrain. Despite these problems, the rover continues to perform good science, and recently found a bedrock outcrop containing some of the oldest rocks found to date. Spirit is expected to find similar outcrops as it moves up the Columbia Hills. Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, continues to inch down into the crater Endurance. Scientists have found a puzzling increase in the amount of chlorine in the rock layers as Opportunity travels deeper into the crater.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, moving backwards to deal with a faulty wheel, has encountered a bedrock outcrop that may contain some of the oldest rocks found yet during the mission. Spirit, which has traveled over 3.5 kilometers since landing in Gusev Crater, is now traveling backwards because of increased friction with the rover's right front wheel. By moving backward rover controllers effective drag the balky wheel along, rotating it only occasionally in rough terrain. Despite these problems, the rover continues to perform good science, and recently found a bedrock outcrop containing some of the oldest rocks found to date. Spirit is expected to find similar outcrops as it moves up the Columbia Hills. Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, continues to inch down into the crater Endurance. Scientists have found a puzzling increase in the amount of chlorine in the rock layers as Opportunity travels deeper into the crater.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 17
INNOSPACE Identifies Cause of HANBIT-Nano Mission Termination Through Joint Investigation with Brazil’s CENIPA
INNOspace — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) ESA-enabled helical antenna innovations boost space-based connectivity
ESA — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) Innospace Identifies Gas Leak as Cause of Aborted Launch
Chosun Ilbo — 5:24 am ET (0924 GMT) Canada Leases Space Port in Bid to Break Reliance on US Rockets Like Musk’s SpaceX
Bloomberg News — 5:22 am ET (0922 GMT) 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry flags criticism of proposed rule change to fast-track SpaceX joining the Nasdaq
Business Insider — 5:21 am ET (0921 GMT) |
