Wheel Trouble, ...down to 5 good wheels? |
Wheel Trouble, ...down to 5 good wheels? |
Mar 14 2006, 12:29 AM
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#1
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: 13-January 05 Member No.: 143 |
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I just heard that there is a serious problem with Spirit's right front drive actuator after yestersol's drive. (This is the actuator that had high currents in the past and led to the backward-driving strategy.) It will take awhile to evaluate the situation, but early speculation is grim.
In a worst-case scenario, they can still drag the bum wheel along, but don't expect another summit view. Best-case scenario would be a rock or debris jammed in the wheel. This is a heads-up, sorry I can't really give more info at this time. I still thought you all would like to know. |
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Mar 17 2006, 03:22 AM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 123 Joined: 21-February 05 Member No.: 175 |
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Mar 17 2006, 04:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1229 Joined: 24-December 05 From: The blue one in between the yellow and red ones. Member No.: 618 |
My biggest concern about all of this is that if the Rover cannot climb the hill on 5 wheels, it will not gain enough altitude to catch the wind, and therefore not be able to clean off the solar panel. Even if it gets to the base of the hill and gets on a tilt that alllows better positioning with respect to the sun, it is only buying a little time. Eventually the dust will accumulate on the panel and starve Spirit anyway. Sooner or later it will need wind. The wind is up high on the hill. It needs to be able to climb somehow. Be brave, Greg! We don't know yet what Spirit can do on 5 wheels. Maybe it will be able to climb McCool, slowly and with frequent roadblocks when the Bad Wheel (TBW) catches on a rock. Then we will have to back up, turn, and go around the rock. It will be slooowwww progress. But we have all the time the gods of space probes have allotted Spirit. As to catching the wind, we could see a huge improvement as soon as we get into the Pass between McCool and Husband Hills. If you aren't familiar with the wind power they can provide, Google on wind farms, and Tehachapi, San Gorgonio, and Altamont Pass. We don't have to reach the peak of McCool to get the wind. On the contrary, it may be extra strong down in the pass. To be the final, ultimate, SuperHero of Mars exploration, Spirit needs to slowly climb the north face of McCool Hill. If it gets even half way to the summit, it should have a bronze statue in every city park in America! -------------------- My Grandpa goes to Mars every day and all I get are these lousy T-shirts!
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Mar 17 2006, 06:11 AM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1636 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Lima, Peru Member No.: 385 |
As to catching the wind, we could see a huge improvement as soon as we get into the Pass between McCool and Husband Hills. That is true. I have observed it on the Earth experience. The highest point of a valley, goes a strong wind tunneled by the lower valley. Hope that the point of junction of two hills: Husband and McCool there would be windy. Rodolfo |
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Mar 17 2006, 03:17 PM
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#5
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1374 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
"We're now in a drive or die situation," says Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, who leads the rover science team. "Our current focus is to drive like hell and get to a safe winter haven."
I did not realise the situation was that dire............... |
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Mar 17 2006, 04:08 PM
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#6
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Dublin Correspondent Group: Admin Posts: 1799 Joined: 28-March 05 From: Celbridge, Ireland Member No.: 220 |
"We're now in a drive or die situation," says Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, who leads the rover science team. "Our current focus is to drive like hell and get to a safe winter haven." I did not realise the situation was that dire............... Power is at 350 watt hours per sol now with daily insolation at 3630 whr per m^2. Insolation drops to its winter minimum of 2770 on August 24th (Sol 909). If they do not move and there is no additional dust deposition power would drop to 267 whr by then. Factoring in dust deposition causes an additional 0.08% per sol loss so the power level will probably drop to 241whr. 280whr is the number that we suspect is the minimum survival level, SS has said this in the past. A good slope (15-20% tilt approximately facing the noon sun) would add 20-30% to that bringing Spirit back to a level where she can survive and possibly even do some work. |
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