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Wheel Trouble, ...down to 5 good wheels?
mars_armer
post Mar 14 2006, 12:29 AM
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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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GregM
post Mar 17 2006, 03:22 AM
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Shaka
post Mar 17 2006, 04:32 AM
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QUOTE (GregM @ Mar 16 2006, 05:22 PM) *
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! smile.gif


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My Grandpa goes to Mars every day and all I get are these lousy T-shirts!
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RNeuhaus
post Mar 17 2006, 06:11 AM
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QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 16 2006, 11:32 PM) *
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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MahFL
post Mar 17 2006, 03:17 PM
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"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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helvick
post Mar 17 2006, 04:08 PM
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QUOTE (MahFL @ Mar 17 2006, 03:17 PM) *
"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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ToSeek
post Mar 17 2006, 06:23 PM
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QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 17 2006, 04:08 PM) *
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.


Even the extra 20% would make it only up to 290 whr. Sounds like one cloudy day could be the end of Spirit....
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Posts in this topic
- mars_armer   Wheel Trouble   Mar 14 2006, 12:29 AM
- - Myran   Thank you for the heads up mars_armer. With winter...   Mar 14 2006, 12:44 AM
- - DFinfrock   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 14 2006, 12:29 AM...   Mar 14 2006, 01:20 AM
- - Sunspot   You mean the wheel will no longer turn at all anym...   Mar 14 2006, 01:27 AM
|- - mars_armer   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 13 2006, 05:27 PM) Y...   Mar 14 2006, 01:44 AM
- - Shaka   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 13 2006, 02:29 PM...   Mar 14 2006, 01:31 AM
- - Jeff7   Yeah, let's really just hope that it's jus...   Mar 14 2006, 03:28 AM
- - BruceMoomaw   Do you mean that the wheel won't turn even if ...   Mar 14 2006, 04:13 AM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (BruceMoomaw @ Mar 13 2006, 06:13 P...   Mar 14 2006, 05:15 AM
|- - mars_armer   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 13 2006, 09:15 PM) Do ...   Mar 14 2006, 04:37 PM
|- - RNeuhaus   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 14 2006, 11:37 AM...   Mar 15 2006, 12:49 AM
- - BruceMoomaw   Under ordinary circumstances that is possible. In...   Mar 14 2006, 05:17 AM
- - CosmicRocker   Oh, no. So that is one reason why Spirit has move...   Mar 14 2006, 07:08 AM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (CosmicRocker @ Mar 14 2006, 07:08 ...   Mar 14 2006, 08:25 AM
- - Bill Harris   Oh well, stuff happens. We're all a lot creak...   Mar 14 2006, 08:34 AM
- - edstrick   I note that both from Husband hill and from the dr...   Mar 14 2006, 10:37 AM
|- - Marz   Poor Spirit, just as she regains the lead in milag...   Mar 14 2006, 03:43 PM
- - tty   Design lesson for future rovers: there should be s...   Mar 14 2006, 05:53 PM
|- - Bob Shaw   QUOTE (tty @ Mar 14 2006, 05:53 PM) Desig...   Mar 14 2006, 11:06 PM
|- - RNeuhaus   QUOTE (tty @ Mar 14 2006, 12:53 PM) Desig...   Mar 15 2006, 01:06 AM
|- - monty python   QUOTE (tty @ Mar 14 2006, 11:53 AM) Desig...   Mar 15 2006, 09:49 AM
|- - Ames   QUOTE (monty python @ Mar 15 2006, 09:49 ...   Mar 15 2006, 10:47 AM
||- - odave   QUOTE (Ames @ Mar 15 2006, 05:47 AM) But ...   Mar 15 2006, 02:16 PM
|- - lyford   QUOTE (monty python @ Mar 15 2006, 01:49 ...   Mar 15 2006, 07:35 PM
|- - imipak   QUOTE (monty python @ Mar 15 2006, 09:49 ...   Mar 15 2006, 08:37 PM
- - Bill Harris   QUOTE there should be some simple and reliable mec...   Mar 14 2006, 06:09 PM
- - alan   Something in there?   Mar 14 2006, 07:49 PM
|- - Toma B   That's good news...if it got in, it can posibl...   Mar 14 2006, 08:23 PM
|- - helvick   [quote name='alan' post='45573' date='Mar 14 2006,...   Mar 14 2006, 08:32 PM
|- - mars_armer   QUOTE (alan @ Mar 14 2006, 11:49 AM) Some...   Mar 14 2006, 09:34 PM
|- - helvick   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 14 2006, 09:34 PM...   Mar 14 2006, 09:46 PM
||- - helvick   QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 14 2006, 09:46 PM) A...   Mar 14 2006, 10:05 PM
||- - Shaka   QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 14 2006, 12:05 PM) A...   Mar 14 2006, 10:34 PM
|||- - helvick   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 14 2006, 10:34 PM) ......   Mar 14 2006, 10:37 PM
||- - Daba   QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 14 2006, 11:05 PM) A...   Mar 14 2006, 11:28 PM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 14 2006, 11:34 AM...   Mar 14 2006, 09:46 PM
- - Sunspot   I thought it might have been a rock at first... bu...   Mar 14 2006, 10:55 PM
- - djellison   At a first look - it just looks like dust to me - ...   Mar 14 2006, 11:05 PM
- - slinted   There was a tiny bit of motion between sol 779 and...   Mar 14 2006, 11:39 PM
|- - ElkGroveDan   QUOTE (slinted @ Mar 14 2006, 11:39 PM) T...   Mar 15 2006, 01:24 AM
- - djellison   That's a very odd motion - at first I thought ...   Mar 15 2006, 12:11 AM
- - Bill Harris   Not at all good. Slinted's animated-GIF shows...   Mar 15 2006, 04:01 AM
- - mars_armer   Looks like a drive will be attempted on Sol 781 (d...   Mar 15 2006, 04:33 AM
- - edstrick   quote: "I've got a little list..... I...   Mar 15 2006, 10:49 AM
- - Burmese   Yeah, wheel bearing looks likely to me, or some ot...   Mar 15 2006, 01:57 PM
|- - MahFL   Strange co-incidence......today the front left whe...   Mar 15 2006, 06:10 PM
- - djellison   I gave a talk to some 16-18 y.o. school students t...   Mar 15 2006, 06:48 PM
- - Sunspot   Still limping along: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/...   Mar 15 2006, 07:54 PM
|- - general   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 15 2006, 08:54 PM) S...   Mar 15 2006, 08:13 PM
|- - Marcel   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 15 2006, 08:54 PM) S...   Mar 15 2006, 08:16 PM
|- - Sunspot   QUOTE (Marcel @ Mar 15 2006, 08:16 PM) Oh...   Mar 15 2006, 08:50 PM
- - Burmese   Good, they aren't going to sit still and spend...   Mar 15 2006, 08:05 PM
- - elakdawalla   Squyres did not mention the wheel trouble in his t...   Mar 15 2006, 08:24 PM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Mar 15 2006, 10:24 A...   Mar 15 2006, 09:07 PM
|- - AlexBlackwell   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 15 2006, 09:07 PM) P.S...   Mar 15 2006, 09:10 PM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (AlexBlackwell @ Mar 15 2006, 11:10...   Mar 15 2006, 09:49 PM
||- - djellison   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 15 2006, 09:49 PM) I s...   Mar 15 2006, 10:18 PM
||- - odave   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 15 2006, 04:49 PM) I s...   Mar 15 2006, 10:20 PM
||- - Shaka   QUOTE (odave @ Mar 15 2006, 12:20 PM) See...   Mar 15 2006, 11:00 PM
||- - ToSeek   QUOTE (odave @ Mar 15 2006, 10:20 PM) See...   Mar 16 2006, 05:48 PM
||- - AlexBlackwell   QUOTE (ToSeek @ Mar 16 2006, 05:48 PM) Sh...   Mar 16 2006, 05:50 PM
|- - helvick   QUOTE (AlexBlackwell @ Mar 15 2006, 09:10...   Mar 15 2006, 09:54 PM
- - centsworth_II   "Looks like she's returning to Home Plate...   Mar 15 2006, 09:01 PM
- - Bill Harris   >Looks like she's returning to Home Plate ...   Mar 15 2006, 10:23 PM
- - djellison   I think they moved to the nearest patch that offer...   Mar 15 2006, 10:31 PM
- - alan   First impression: the right front wheel looks like...   Mar 15 2006, 10:34 PM
- - Shaka   http://static.flickr.com/41/113051772_e40da86735_o...   Mar 15 2006, 11:57 PM
- - CosmicRocker   QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Mar 15 2006, 02:24 P...   Mar 16 2006, 04:10 AM
- - mars_armer   The wheel is definitely looking dead (open circuit...   Mar 16 2006, 04:44 PM
|- - Sunspot   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 16 2006, 04:44 PM...   Mar 16 2006, 05:28 PM
|- - ToSeek   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 16 2006, 05:28 PM) O...   Mar 16 2006, 05:50 PM
|- - mars_armer   > Well, until next summer, at least. And don...   Mar 16 2006, 06:13 PM
- - odave   I'm sure the MER engineers will be able to squ...   Mar 16 2006, 06:17 PM
|- - helvick   QUOTE (odave @ Mar 16 2006, 06:17 PM) I...   Mar 16 2006, 06:46 PM
|- - Bob Shaw   QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 16 2006, 06:46 PM) O...   Mar 16 2006, 08:46 PM
- - odave   Yeah, I know that Ma'adim Vallis is not a real...   Mar 16 2006, 06:55 PM
|- - Marz   QUOTE (odave @ Mar 16 2006, 12:55 PM) Yea...   Mar 16 2006, 09:14 PM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (Marz @ Mar 16 2006, 11:14 AM) lol ...   Mar 16 2006, 10:57 PM
- - djellison   The day time temps might be getting to -60 instead...   Mar 16 2006, 10:02 PM
- - Jeff7   Can't they just use the routines they develope...   Mar 16 2006, 10:46 PM
- - djellison   Spirits wheel wasnt stuck back in the 150-350 sol ...   Mar 16 2006, 10:50 PM
- - GregM   .   Mar 17 2006, 03:22 AM
|- - Shaka   QUOTE (GregM @ Mar 16 2006, 05:22 PM) My ...   Mar 17 2006, 04:32 AM
|- - RNeuhaus   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 16 2006, 11:32 PM) As ...   Mar 17 2006, 06:11 AM
|- - MahFL   "We're now in a drive or die situation,...   Mar 17 2006, 03:17 PM
|- - helvick   QUOTE (MahFL @ Mar 17 2006, 03:17 PM) ...   Mar 17 2006, 04:08 PM
|- - ToSeek   QUOTE (helvick @ Mar 17 2006, 04:08 PM) P...   Mar 17 2006, 06:23 PM
- - ddeerrff   QUOTE (Shaka @ Mar 16 2006, 04:57 PM) Mar...   Mar 17 2006, 04:29 AM
- - djellison   <360 Whr's per sol and decreasing quite rap...   Mar 17 2006, 04:09 PM
- - mars_armer   How sure are we of the 280 Whr "death" n...   Mar 17 2006, 06:37 PM
|- - helvick   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 17 2006, 06:37 PM...   Mar 17 2006, 07:21 PM
|- - Bob Shaw   QUOTE (mars_armer @ Mar 17 2006, 06:37 PM...   Mar 17 2006, 11:44 PM
- - Sunspot   Was Spirit supposed to drive today? http://qt.e...   Mar 17 2006, 07:08 PM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 17 2006, 07:08 PM) W...   Mar 17 2006, 08:29 PM
|- - akuo   QUOTE (Sunspot @ Mar 17 2006, 07:08 PM) W...   Mar 17 2006, 08:40 PM
- - Oersted   I think we're all happy that the team was pret...   Mar 18 2006, 12:00 AM
- - nprev   On the weakly positive side, I hope that the wheel...   Mar 18 2006, 12:28 AM
- - marsman   In today's press release below, there are a fe...   Mar 18 2006, 01:39 AM
- - odave   QUOTE (marsman @ Mar 17 2006, 08:39 PM) N...   Mar 18 2006, 02:42 AM
- - Steve   QUOTE (marsman @ Mar 17 2006, 08:39 PM) N...   Mar 18 2006, 02:59 AM
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