MSL schedule delay? |
MSL schedule delay? |
Sep 9 2008, 08:10 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 706 Joined: 22-April 05 Member No.: 351 |
The most recent Aviation Week and Space Technology (9/8) has the following tidbit in a piece on NASA schedule delays:
"On the robotoic front, the testing schedule for a critical instrument for the Mars Science Laboratory -- dubbed SAM for Sample Analysis at Mars -- may delay launch of the advanced rover from its 2009 planetary window into 2011." -------------------- |
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Oct 10 2008, 07:43 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 646 Joined: 23-December 05 From: Forest of Dean Member No.: 617 |
Phew, that's a rare bit of good news. (I hope it's not bad news for other missions, of course.) Would anyone care to offer (informed?) speculation on what features of these actuators could be unusual enough, engineering-wise, to cause unexpected delivery delays?
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Viva software libre! |
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Oct 10 2008, 08:13 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
...what features of these actuators could be unusual enough, engineering-wise, to cause unexpected delivery delays? I would say the main feature is that they are unique -- and complex --mechanisms for a unique machine. And they need to be built and tested to be as near flawless as possible... no repair shops on Mars. I heard a figure of 600 parts mentioned for 'some of these'. I don't know if that is moving parts, or if it is the actuator only or includes the wheel assembly or joint being moved. But either way, that's really complex. |
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