[X] My Assistant

[djellison]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2004-249

Engineers on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover team are investigating possible causes and remedies for a problem affecting the steering on Spirit.

The relay for steering actuators on Spirit's right-front and left-rear wheels did not operate as commanded on Oct. 1. Each of the front and rear wheels on the rover has a steering actuator, or motor, that adjusts the direction in which the wheels are headed independently from the motor that makes the wheels roll. When the actuators are not in use, electric relays are closed and the motor acts as a brake to prevent unintended changes in direction.



Doug

[YesRushGen]

Yeah, and it looks like they went DOWNHILL to get to this new rock. I wonder if they're giving up on the climb - instead just surveying rocks in the immediate vicinity.

Or maybe it's not "giving up." Maybe it's a wintering over scheme in disguise. After all, Spirit is generating much less power than Oppy is. Maybe it will improve after spring thaw.

I say "put the hammer down" while there's still time and get up that hill!

[MizarKey]

I say "put the hammer down" while there's still time and get up that hill!

I agree wholeheartedly! Let's get to the top of the hill so we can watch the dance of the dust devils!

Eric P / MizarKey

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

Apparently a fair amount, Doug -- JPL says that the inability to use the front steering just means that they'll have to drive the vehicle "partially like a tank", which will mildly affect the accuracy of its fine maneuvers to get in really close to a target, and may thus prolong such maneuvers a bit. They certainly talk as though this newest problem, even combined with the previous unpowered front wheel, is nowhere close to being a show-stopper.

[djellison]

Apparently a fair amount, Doug -- JPL says that the inability to use the front steering just means that they'll have to drive the vehicle "partially like a tank", which will mildly affect the accuracy of its fine maneuvers to get in really close to a target, and may thus prolong such maneuvers a bit. They certainly talk as though this newest problem, even combined with the previous unpowered front wheel, is nowhere close to being a show-stopper.

Top stuff then The smell of Spring in the air, earlier mornings, later nights, the sun high in the sky - even WITH arthritic limbs, Spirit may still make good progress

Doug

[NorbertGiesinger]

Its true that we all would like to see great panoramas - for me the most interesting formation in the area I would like to see is a rather flat whiteish feature which may be (according to a paper from Dr. Cabrol) some form of salt deposit.

However - look at the enigmatic stones in recent days - look at the holes and the peculiar knobs !
A systematic and exhausting study in this area is possible with a mobility of a few meters per week and will yield data for the work of big numbers of scientists and technicians for years to come.

[Pando]

Sunspot: .....yikes, where did you see that?

Well the PR was just posted here:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

Man, they are really slow getting these press releases out...