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Mars Needs Drivers
So, we've been following the recent history of two marvelous robots, Mars
Exploration Rovers (MER) "Spirit" and "Opportunity." But after two months of remarkable science, impressive images of rock layers, distant hills, "blueberry" hematite nodules, and even a partial solar eclispe by a Martian moon, I'm left thinking... WHO CARES?! I know, this is blantant mutiny from a space enthusiast. These doggone robots took weeks to stand up, shake their legs, stretch their solar wings, and then stood for a long look around, for another week! I know very well why we should take great care in exploring any new and unique place, particularly with a rare successfully-landed probe. Yes, and the almost certain mission success in determining water once flowed on the surface of another world in our solar system - it's great science! But, I'm still idling at "ho-hum" A few weeks after the Mars Rover landings I watched NASA Administrator O'Keefe testify to a U.S. Congressional committee about how his agency would carry out the January 2004 Presidential Space Initiative. And while our government money-watchers congratulated him on NASA's Mars Rover successes, he stopped me cold when he said: "One human geologist could do in one day, what these rovers will do in their entire 90 day missions!" Yes, exactly. Our machines are technically brilliant, and still "dumb-as-a-box-of-red -Martian-rocks!" A single astronaut would have cracked the rocks, put his or her nose up against the visor, taken some close-up photos, bagged the sample, and reported initial findings to Earth in great detail--all before the rover got one steering knuckle unkinked. The problem with these rovers is the driver is too far away from the vehicle. There is no astronaut with a joystick in his or her right hand, yanking and banking around craters and boulders, and leaving a rooster tail of red dust in his wake. There are no humorous remarks about driving style from a fellow Marswalker, or observations of the hurtling small moons overhead. We hear no verbal barrage of archane rock talk lingo from someone who waited a lifetime to practice this trade on a new world. No one there now on the red plains of Mars can pull off a fender fix using plastic maps and tape. (OK, I know the Mars Rovers have no fenders.) The U.S. leadership has made the first move: they've outlined a plan, and asked the government for more money. Yes, a crew needs so much more than a robot--like food, air, water, and cosmic protection--and it costs way, way more. Brilliant robotic programs have been NASA's mainstay, and their most far-reaching successes for 30 years. However, if you'd like me to pay more attention to any Mars Rovers, just put an astronaut in the driver's seat. -- JW ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
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