[X] My Assistant

[azstrummer]

Okay, I've posted a number of times indicating my desire to see Spirt get quickly to the top of the hills and peer over the other side and each time have been chided by Doug that I'm thinking more like a tourist than a scientist and I'd like to know if I'm the only one in this mindset.

Sol 310. Way past the expected. Gravy from here on out. So what should it be - tourist or geologist?

[djellison]

(Or in Spirit's case, the ~$410 million panorama).

Nope - $410m got you the first 90 days The rest is from the Extended mission budget.

I maintain - that nice though the view from the summit will be, the science on the way is even better, and I would hate for them to ignore the science ( which is why they went ) just to get a better postcard.

Of Course - there is some science to be had from the view at the top of the hill - but the best science is the rocks they'd drive straight over if they were to go rambling without intention.

Of course - the manpower isnt in situ to have day after day of driving. Running on fewer 'drivers' and 'planners' it takes a sol or two to figure out a driving sequence, a sol or two that is best spent doing in situ science using the arm. So - drive for a day or two, spend a few days doing in situ science. Drive for another day, another couple of days doing in situ science, drive for another day or two, then have 3 in situ days of observation over a weekend. It takes longer to make sure they can park Spirit in an N facing direction at the end of a drive. A bad end-of-drive position now could kill spirit within 24 hrs, and that isnt an understatement.

There's 6 scientific instruments on each rover. (MB, APXS, MI, Mini TES, Pancam, Magnetic Targets) - only one, perhaps two will benefit from driving straight to the hill.

So - take things steady - do things carefully - look after these assets, priceless as they are, but dont rush to the top of a hill just to see what's there, chances are you'd trip and fall in the process.

Hare and Tortoise and all that.

Doug