Digging in |
Digging in |
Apr 25 2006, 03:36 PM
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#1
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 289 |
An interesting update at Newscientist.
Seems they are planning on using Spirit's RAT to dig down into the dirt, cm by cm. I wonder how deep they can go? Maybe we'll find out if there is anything frozen/liquid just below the surface. Link |
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Apr 25 2006, 04:13 PM
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#2
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Only difference between this and the trenching ( two intentional, several unintentional ) is the degree of accuracy in the depth being taken away. I don't imagine there will be any 'wow' moments, just good science.
Doug |
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Apr 25 2006, 06:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1636 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Lima, Peru Member No.: 385 |
I realized that this kind of digging would cause more problems to Spirit than the benefit. I am supposing that the RAT has a grinding wheel grinding wheel to remove dust and weathered rock, exposing fresh rock underneath.
During the griding process, it can spatter the sand away and the powder would fall onto the already dirty panel array solar. This will would lead to lower solar incidence to the solar arrays. In spite of the fact, the RAT has performed many times with little consequences of dirty powder on the array solars but the case of grinding on the sandy surface, the thing would be worst, more spattering. I am not sure about this consequences. But, someone who know better about this might jump his toughts. Rodolfo |
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Apr 25 2006, 07:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1619 Joined: 12-February 06 From: Bergerac - FR Member No.: 678 |
Dust may not cause problem. The high of solar panels is about 80 cm. The RAT -I think- didn't have the power to eject or dispend dust more than few decimeters.
I think that the danger is the probality of intrusion of material IN the RAT and all the instruments... -------------------- |
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Apr 25 2006, 08:04 PM
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#5
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
They've not said they're going to physically RAT the soil ( that would be silly ) - just use it as a type of shovel - push stuff about.
Doug |
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Apr 25 2006, 08:07 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2488 Joined: 17-April 05 From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Member No.: 239 |
Only difference between this and the trenching ( two intentional, several unintentional ) is the degree of accuracy in the depth being taken away. I don't imagine there will be any 'wow' moments, just good science. Doug Doug: Hopefully, we'll be able to see discrete layers being pulled away, rather than just the final effect - so that will be a *big* difference: Bob Shaw -------------------- Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
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Apr 25 2006, 08:23 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2488 Joined: 17-April 05 From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Member No.: 239 |
Rodolfo:
Stirring the sand/dust should produce much less debris than a proper high-speed abrasion! Bob Shaw -------------------- Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
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Apr 25 2006, 08:34 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1636 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Lima, Peru Member No.: 385 |
I agree that it is more sensate to use the IDD as a showel to stirr the sand and the RAT will be off meanwhile.
Rodolfo |
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Apr 25 2006, 11:02 PM
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#9
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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 |
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/pre.../20060425a.html
Details on the 'dig'! QUOTE Spirit will use the brush on the rock abrasion tool to carefully sweep away soil, much the way an archaeologist uses a brush to uncover artifacts. At each level, Spirit will measure the mineral and chemical properties and assess the physical nature (such as grain size, texture, hardness) of the material, using the Athena science instruments on the robotic arm. What rotation speed(s) does the brush use? Apparently Spirit's wheels won't turn again for 4 months. Oh well, at least Oppy's going to be moving. -------------------- My Grandpa goes to Mars every day and all I get are these lousy T-shirts!
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Apr 26 2006, 01:14 AM
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 136 Joined: 13-October 05 From: Malibu, CA Member No.: 527 |
Apparently Spirit's wheels won't turn again for 4 months. Well, I'd be very surprised if they actually sit right where they are for the next four months - for several reasons. First, the slope nearby (dead ahead to rear of rover) allows for a better tilt toward the sun (current is 11 degrees, potential is for 15 to 18 degrees.) Second, there are so many 'targets' to get to - for 'science' - that I believe they will slowly get around to over the next few months. I’m expecting at least half a dozen moves to nearby targets.The problems associated with moving are great - ability to turn is limited, and potential for getting 'stuck' is high, unless great care is taken. They'll have to wiggle around the dead wheel, and hence they have to pre-plan every move much more carefully than in the past. Every turn will dig up the soil around where it is made, and obviously, the big rocks in the area could become a problem in any turning sequence. There is also the rise to the immediate west of the current location, that also offers a potential greater northern tilt - perhaps five to eight more degrees - and additional targets of interest nearby. So somewhere in the following months, I fully expect to see a visit to that rise -which won’t entail much additional driving – but will give us new views, and many more fascinating pictures to contemplate. |
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Apr 26 2006, 01:40 AM
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#11
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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 |
I would have expected the same sort of plan - to cover as much ground west and south as appropriate slopes would allow. I just don't see that ambition in the statement:
QUOTE After the winter solstice in August, depending on energy levels, scientists may direct the rover to pivot around the disabled, right front wheel to get different targets within reach of the arm. I hope somebody used 'imprecise' phrasing. -------------------- My Grandpa goes to Mars every day and all I get are these lousy T-shirts!
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Apr 26 2006, 06:45 AM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 236 Joined: 21-June 05 Member No.: 417 |
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/pre.../20060425a.html :
"The planned subsurface soil experiments will be a first for the Mars Exploration Rover mission. To conduct the study, Spirit will use the brush on the rock abrasion tool to carefully sweep away soil, much the way an archaeologist uses a brush to uncover artifacts. At each level, Spirit will measure the mineral and chemical properties and assess the physical nature (such as grain size, texture, hardness) of the material, using the Athena science instruments on the robotic arm. Of particular interest are vertical variations in soil characteristics that may indicate water-related deposition of sulfates and other minerals." EDIT: ooops...too late. Beaten by Shaka. LOL |
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Apr 26 2006, 07:02 AM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1870 Joined: 20-February 05 Member No.: 174 |
I *PRESUME* they've been playing in the sand box at JPL.....
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Apr 26 2006, 08:08 AM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2492 Joined: 15-January 05 From: center Italy Member No.: 150 |
Perhaps slightly OT, but in the newscientist article they talk about 8 months stay in the present position...
This is a huge stop (I was convinced that winter would last 5/6 months). Consider also that this will end well behind Sol1000 extended mission! -------------------- I always think before posting! - Marco -
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Apr 26 2006, 08:55 AM
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#15
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 31-March 05 From: Sofia, Bulgaria Member No.: 224 |
Well, ignoring the dust buildup and battery recharge capacity, about 7 months from now (or 200 sols, if my math is correct) the solar exposure will be around tosol levels with lowest on august 6th
Another OT: in Starry Night Pro a martian day of 24.656944 hours works much better than the wikipedia value of 24.622962 |
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