Spirits Drive Cancelled...Again

Before Spirits computer went beserk, scientists had the idea of sending the
rover off in the direction of those hills, but not before visiting a large
impact crater. From watching Fridays press conference, I got the impression
they think they might just about make to that crater now. I would have
thought the impact crater/ejecta and the opportunity to see deep below the
surface would have been a high priority. At this rate it will end up
freezing to death 10 feet from it's lander.

Elysium Fossa wrote:
Before Spirits computer went beserk, scientists had the idea of sending the
rover off in the direction of those hills, but not before visiting a large
impact crater. From watching Fridays press conference, I got the impression
they think they might just about make to that crater now. I would have
thought the impact crater/ejecta and the opportunity to see deep below the
surface would have been a high priority. At this rate it will end up
freezing to death 10 feet from it's lander.

Why the misleading subject header? I thought you may have had some new
news. In fact, no drive has been canceled. The problems delayed going
to the crater, that's all. They will begin to drive to the crater early
this week. Any long term plans to "head for the hills" are as
speculative as they have always been. Who knows what they might find at
the crater on or the way to it? I was impressed that they were already
working up plans to use the autonomous navigation so they could start
driving more than only a few meters per day. Keep in mind that driving
too hastily could cause delays (when the rover stops driving and waits
for instructions from home). They will ramp up slowly until they are
comfortable with driving ever longer distances.


--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

To reply remove spleen

Elysium Fossa wrote:
Before Spirits computer went beserk, scientists had the idea of sending the
rover off in the direction of those hills, but not before visiting a large
impact crater. From watching Fridays press conference, I got the impression
they think they might just about make to that crater now. I would have
thought the impact crater/ejecta and the opportunity to see deep below the
surface would have been a high priority. At this rate it will end up
freezing to death 10 feet from it's lander.

Why the misleading subject header? I thought you may have had some new
news. In fact, no drive has been canceled. The problems delayed going
to the crater, that's all. They will begin to drive to the crater early
this week. Any long term plans to "head for the hills" are as
speculative as they have always been. Who knows what they might find at
the crater on or the way to it? I was impressed that they were already
working up plans to use the autonomous navigation so they could start
driving more than only a few meters per day. Keep in mind that driving
too hastily could cause delays (when the rover stops driving and waits
for instructions from home). They will ramp up slowly until they are
comfortable with driving ever longer distances.


--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

To reply remove spleen

I have a great idea. (sarcasm on the way)
Lets drive the rover at 5 miles per hour, flip the sucker then call AAA to
come tow it..
The last you want to do is go wreck the Lander after putting 4 hard years of
your life into building the things!




"Elysium Fossa" wrote in message
...
Before Spirits computer went beserk, scientists had the idea of sending
the
rover off in the direction of those hills, but not before visiting a large
impact crater. From watching Fridays press conference, I got the
impression
they think they might just about make to that crater now. I would have
thought the impact crater/ejecta and the opportunity to see deep below the
surface would have been a high priority. At this rate it will end up
freezing to death 10 feet from it's lander.

I have a great idea. (sarcasm on the way)
Lets drive the rover at 5 miles per hour, flip the sucker then call AAA to
come tow it..
The last you want to do is go wreck the Lander after putting 4 hard years of
your life into building the things!




"Elysium Fossa" wrote in message
...
Before Spirits computer went beserk, scientists had the idea of sending
the
rover off in the direction of those hills, but not before visiting a large
impact crater. From watching Fridays press conference, I got the
impression
they think they might just about make to that crater now. I would have
thought the impact crater/ejecta and the opportunity to see deep below the
surface would have been a high priority. At this rate it will end up
freezing to death 10 feet from it's lander.