Spirit: End of Mission |
Spirit: End of Mission |
May 1 2011, 09:20 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 18-December 07 From: New York Member No.: 3982 |
New Update:
http://www.planetary.org/news/2011/0430_Ma...ate_Spirit.html There is only so much that can be done from down here, and the countdown to the end of mission for Spirit has quietly, unofficially begun behind the scenes. Word is that NASA headquarters is preparing to announce that MER will continue as a one-rover mission around the first of June. Later: JPL's crew will continue the current recovery operations, which take place several times a day, through May 25th, informed Nelson. Following that, "greatly reduced recovery operations" -- averaging one effort each week -- will continue through the end of the year. |
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May 24 2011, 06:38 PM
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#2
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Oh... crap...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_...EMPLATE=DEFAULT BUT important to wait for official word from the Powers That Be. These things are often the result of games of Chinese Whispers gone crazy. -------------------- |
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May 24 2011, 07:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4256 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
From the NASA TV schedule:
QUOTE May 31, Tuesday 2:30 p.m. - NASA Science Briefing: Mars Spirit Rover Celebration: An End to a New Beginning - HQ (Public and Media Channels) |
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May 24 2011, 08:09 PM
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#4
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Well spotted, Fred.
And: -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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May 24 2011, 08:19 PM
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#5
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Special Cookie Group: Members Posts: 2168 Joined: 6-April 05 From: Sintra | Portugal Member No.: 228 |
Guys, gather around, the day we expected to happen 90 sols after landing has arrived.
I will never forget Spirit and her journey, our brave gal, I will tell her story for generations to come. So many years of quest, stories, legends, adventures, mountains, anxiety, utter joy, I am lacking words here. Love you Spirit, forever. You have a VERY special place in my life. Farewell. Hug you all UMSFers. And to the team...thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_...EMPLATE=DEFAULT -------------------- "Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Alan Poe |
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May 24 2011, 09:46 PM
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#6
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Very sad day, but probably the kindest thing to do. All journeys, all adventures, all dreams must eventually come to an end.
Wouldn't it be just like Spirit, drama queen to the last, to phone home in reply to tomorrow's "last chance" hail? But... well... a few words, just 'cos I feel moved to. http://twitpic.com/522gbs -------------------- |
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Guest_Sunspot_* |
May 24 2011, 09:50 PM
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#7
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Guests |
Spirit's gone for us,, but the weird thing is..in the distant distant future someone could easily get her roving and taking pictures again.
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May 24 2011, 10:03 PM
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#8
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Great poem, Stu. There's nothing more I can add to your beautiful writing...it's just right. Requiem in pace, brave little friend & pioneer. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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May 24 2011, 10:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
There's an audio discussion on right now about Spirit.
http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html Callas just said that: 'Last commands will be sent to Spirit (tonight) 0700UTC'. |
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May 24 2011, 10:56 PM
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 25-April 08 From: near New York City, NY Member No.: 4103 |
"All journeys, all adventures, all dreams must eventually come to an end."
If I have learned anything from this site and all of you, dreams never have to end. |
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May 24 2011, 11:28 PM
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#11
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I've been pondering the words that best describe what's happened.
Spirit is just a robot. A bunch of thinking metal sent from Earth (as Scott would say). The adventure, the personality, the achievements - they are because of the team of scientists and engineers who designed, built, tested, launch, landed and drove her. She is their avatar. Every image she ever took. Every cm she ever drove. Every RAT brush, grind, APXS or Mossbauer integration. Every scuff, turn, bump, beep and approach. They were all the result of a carefully crafted set of instructions running on a carefully crafted spacecraft built onthis rock and then sent to that rock. So yes - our little robot has gone silent. But what made her, the essence of what she is.....is still right here on this rock, driving Opportunity, testing Curiosity, or analyzing spectra from 6 years of Gusev exploration. She didn't die. She just moved on. |
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May 24 2011, 11:39 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 18-December 07 From: New York Member No.: 3982 |
What happened to the "try to communicate once a week until the end of calendar year" plan?
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May 24 2011, 11:40 PM
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#13
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
After review, it was decided that the likelihood of that being successful wasn't sufficiently high to keep asking for time on the assets required.
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May 24 2011, 11:49 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
Rest well, Spirit. One day, we'll come visit you in person!
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May 24 2011, 11:57 PM
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 139 Joined: 14-October 05 From: Toronto, Canada Member No.: 529 |
Adieu
-------------------- -- Robin
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