Spirit Condition Upgraded as Twin Rover Nears Mars

Guy Webster (818) 354-5011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Donald Savage (202) 358-1547
NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

New Release: 2004-034 January 24, 2004

Spirit Condition Upgraded as Twin Rover Nears Mars

Hours before NASA's Opportunity rover will reach Mars, engineers
have found a way to communicate reliably with its twin, Spirit, and
to get Spirit's computer out of a cycle of rebooting many times a
day.

Spirit's responses to commands sent this morning confirm a theory
developed overnight that the problem is related to the rover's two
"flash" memories or software controlling those memories.

"The rover has been upgraded from critical to serious," said Mars
Exploration Rover Project Manager Peter Theisinger at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Significant work is still
ahead for restoring Spirit, he predicted.

Opportunity is on course for landing in the Meridiani Planum region
of Mars. The center of an ellipse covering the area where the
spacecraft has a 99 percent chance of landing is just 11 kilometers
(7 miles) from the target point. That point was selected months
ago. Mission managers chose not to use an option for making a final
adjustment to the flight path. Previously, the third and fifth out
of five scheduled maneuvers were skipped as unnecessary. " We
managed to target Opportunity to the desired atmospheric entry
point, which will bring us to the target landing site, in only three
maneuvers," said JPL's Dr. Louis D'Amario, navigation team chief for
the rovers.

Opportunity will reach Mars at 05:05 Sunday, Universal Time (12:05
a.m. Sunday EST or 9:05 p.m. Saturday PST).

From the time Opportunity hits the top of Mars' atmosphere at about
5.4 kilometers per second (12,000 miles per hour) to the time it
hits the surface 6 minutes later, then bounces, the rover will be
going through the riskiest part of its mission. Based on analysis
of Spirit's descent and on weather reports about the atmosphere
above Meridiani Planum, mission controllers have decided to program
Opportunity to open its parachute slightly earlier than Spirit did.

Mars is more than 10 percent farther from Earth than it was when
Spirit landed. That means radio signals from Opportunity during its
descent and after rolling to a stop have a lower chance of being
detected on Earth. About four hours after the landing, news from
the spacecraft may arrive by relay from NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter.
However, that will depend on Opportunity finishing critical
activities, such as opening the lander petals and unfolding the
rover's solar panels, before Odyssey flies overhead.

Spirit has 256 megabytes of flash memory, a type commonly used on
gear such as digital cameras for holding data even when the power is
off. Engineers confirmed this morning that Spirit's recent symptoms
are related to the flash memory when they commanded the rover to
boot up and utilize its random-access memory instead of flash
memory. The rover then obeyed commands about communicating and going
into sleep mode. Spirit communicated successfully at 120 bits per
second for nearly an hour.

"We have a vehicle that is stable in power and thermal, and we have
a working hypothesis we have confirmed," Theisinger said. By
commanding Spirit each morning into a mode that avoids using flash
memory, engineers plan to get it to communicate at a higher data
rate, to diagnose the root cause of the problem and develop ways to
restore as much functioning as possible.

The work on restoring Spirit is not expected to slow the steps in
getting Opportunity ready to roll off its lander platform if
Opportunity lands safely. For Spirit, those steps took 12 days.

The rovers' main task is to explore their landing sites for evidence
in the rocks and soil about whether the sites' past environments
were ever watery and possibly suitable for sustaining life.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in
Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's
Office of Space Science, Washington. Images and additional
information about the project are available from JPL at

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov

and from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., at

http://athena.cornell.edu/ .

-end-

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Nice work everybody.








--
- Alan Kilian alank(at)timelogic.com
Director of Bioinformatics, TimeLogic Corporation 763-449-7622

"Alan Kilian" wrote in message
news:NzFQb.143186$xy6.634818@attbi_s02...

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Nice work everybody.



I am really amazed at the engineering and technical feat that the rovers
represent as well. Truly amazing!

Still it does not makes you closer to understanding of Mars Geology !
You are all completely unable to apprehend the simplest fact of the Earthly
one, running ahead won't help !

Further believing that such feat opens the path to interplanetary travel
within Our Solar System is completely ludicrous !
The day I go to Mars , it won't take me more that 6 hours from TO to
landing .... and going for a quick U-turn around the Moon to boost !

I feel like hearing praised being made to Bleriot for crossing La Manche or
to the "de Montgolfier" bros for the first hot air balloon flight !
Pathetic !

Nom de dieu, mais c'est pas possible une telle ignorance de notre milieu !

--
Sir Jean-Paul Turcaud
Australian Mining Pioneer
Hydro & Mining Prospector _ Senior Geologist
Discoverer of Telfer; Kintyre & Nifty Mines_ Great Sandy Desert.of Australia
Discoverer of the South Atlantic Submarine Gold Placers
( 40 Millions Tons estimate )
Founder of the TRUE GEOLOGY

~~Ignorance Is The Cosmic Sin, The One Never Forgiven ! ~~


"jbeck" a écrit dans le message de
...

"Alan Kilian" wrote in message
news:NzFQb.143186$xy6.634818@attbi_s02...

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Nice work everybody.



I am really amazed at the engineering and technical feat that the rovers
represent as well. Truly amazing!

"{#} jpturcaud" wrote in message
...
Still it does not makes you closer to understanding of Mars Geology !
You are all completely unable to apprehend the simplest fact of the
Earthly
one, running ahead won't help !

Further believing that such feat opens the path to interplanetary travel
within Our Solar System is completely ludicrous !
The day I go to Mars , it won't take me more that 6 hours from TO to
landing .... and going for a quick U-turn around the Moon to boost !

With a rocket stuck up your ass, no doubt.

I feel like hearing praised being made to Bleriot for crossing La Manche
or
to the "de Montgolfier" bros for the first hot air balloon flight !
Pathetic !

Yes, it is quite pathetic that you cannot give praise where praise is due,
but have to badmouth every scientific achievement like a spoiled brat who
didn't get his jello.

"{#} jpturcaud" wrote in message
...
Still it does not makes you closer to understanding of Mars Geology !
You are all completely unable to apprehend the simplest fact of the
Earthly
one, running ahead won't help !

Further believing that such feat opens the path to interplanetary travel
within Our Solar System is completely ludicrous !
The day I go to Mars , it won't take me more that 6 hours from TO to
landing .... and going for a quick U-turn around the Moon to boost !

I feel like hearing praised being made to Bleriot for crossing La Manche
or
to the "de Montgolfier" bros for the first hot air balloon flight !
Pathetic !

Pathetic? I beg your pardon. Most of your comments appear to be mindless
attributions with no real substance on your part. That is pathetic.

I have a very passing interest in Geology. It is a weak subject for me, and
am somewhat lost in the threads where that is discussed. Let there be no
doubt, I do recognize the importance of geology and the clues that
Geologiests can glean from the explorations. In fact, I consider that as
one of the main reasons for being there...to provide reliable and usable
information to the geologists.

Your comments that have aviation as a theme are mildly interesting. I am a
Commercial Pilot, and have had an intense interest of aviation, and aviation
history that spans back to when I was 8 or 9. My uncle's neighbor who died
several years ago was signed off to solo by Wilbur Wright. His first
airplane was built by the Brothers. I know many pilots who flew combat from
WWII to the very recent Gulf War. Peripherilly, I know one of the Apollo
Astronauts. Aviation has always been a strong point within my family. I
also know several engineers, techs and chemists who work for NASA. In their
own right, they rank right up there. Even though I am talking NASA, I also
include those who worked on the Beagle. Despite my own comparatively small
accomplishments, I feel completely humbled to walk in the shadows of these
great men. I think it is important to honor those who have truly made
history, and those who are currently making history.

I have to wonder if my interests and appreciation have more substance than
your apprently superficial degredation of great accomplishments.

You can sit there clucking about how pathetic you find me or those who may
think like me...that is your opinion. You stick to the past, and I will
continue to be thrilled with the present and future.

Thanks for the post.



Nom de dieu, mais c'est pas possible une telle ignorance de notre milieu !

--
Sir Jean-Paul Turcaud
Australian Mining Pioneer
Hydro & Mining Prospector _ Senior Geologist
Discoverer of Telfer; Kintyre & Nifty Mines_ Great Sandy Desert.of
Australia
Discoverer of the South Atlantic Submarine Gold Placers
( 40 Millions Tons estimate )
Founder of the TRUE GEOLOGY



~~Ignorance Is The Cosmic Sin, The One Never Forgiven ! ~~


"jbeck" a écrit dans le message de
...

"Alan Kilian" wrote in message
news:NzFQb.143186$xy6.634818@attbi_s02...

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Nice work everybody.



I am really amazed at the engineering and technical feat that the rovers
represent as well. Truly amazing!

My dear JBeck,

I happen also to have a commercial pilot licence and as well gained Crop
Duster Rating... but my flying interests are only subservient of my main
True Geologist interest !
I intent to buy myself soon a Bonanza 36TC to start taking photos which will
serve to illustrate the book I am writing on the True Geology, and will as
well take an option on the Safire Jet.for early 2006 delivery !
I happen too to have made the Mining History of Australia and I am as well
the LEGAL OWNER OF THE LARGEST GOLD MINE OF AUSTRALIA INDEED THE TELFER MINE
!.

The point I am making is that it is a ridiculous to go exploring Planets in
our solar systems with rockets, that is like wanting to go to New Rochelle
from here in a paddle boot.
One may get there, but that's not the way to go !
.... as well as if wanting to go to Oxford to give a lecture on the True
Geology, I would board a canon ball, go in orbit and fall over the
Geological dpt in a parachute ! See ?

The main problem is not the one of showing gratitude or recognition to those
who have open the road of the Air, and by the way this is Clement Ader from
France and not the Wright brothers who were the first ( in case you don't
know there again the right history ) I have personally open roads which did
not exist in Australia and know all about that, still I have personal
recognition to all those who have put me on the path of understanding.
The main problem is the one of those brainwashed fools mass-produced by
Uuuuniversities of the whole World who have lost the possibility of
Synthesis or Global thinking. The main problem is the one of all those
brainwashed fools like present Gogologist and Physicists who believe the
world is the one as they have been taught ! The main problem is the one
chain-produced degrees-loaded Goys , who have lost their free will and free
mind !!!

There are indeed other nice ways to apprehend the problem and the key to it
is an understanding of the UPL, of which I am the discoverer !
The UPL is the corner stone of the True Geology indeed but for me to out it,
there will be some prerequisite conditions to be met ! Indeed !
The Universal Pressure Laws applications not only open Mankind understanding
to its True Environment, not only open the Road to the Stars, but as well
open the book of Mankind & of Our Earth True History .
Estimates TI with UPL based crafts
La Rochelle - Mars : 6 hours flying time
La Rochelle - Proxima Centuri : approx 8 days

By the way crafts made according to the UPL will have right on Earth a
payload if needed, but exceeding millions of tons, and will allow people to
live in Africa and commute to NY each day in 1/2 hour.time. Or private
lighter craft to commute from La Rochelle to Beijing in less than an hour.
We have changed Millennium in case you did not notice !


Any further question ?

--
Sir Jean-Paul Turcaud
Australian Mining Pioneer
Hydro & Mining Prospector _ Senior Geologist
Discoverer of Telfer; Kintyre & Nifty Mines_ Great Sandy Desert.of Australia
Discoverer of the South Atlantic Submarine Gold Placers
( 40 Millions Tons estimate )
Founder of the TRUE GEOLOGY

~~Ignorance Is The Cosmic Sin, The One Never Forgiven ! ~~


"jbeck" a écrit dans le message de
...

"{#} jpturcaud" wrote in message
...
Still it does not makes you closer to understanding of Mars Geology !
You are all completely unable to apprehend the simplest fact of the
Earthly
one, running ahead won't help !

Further believing that such feat opens the path to interplanetary travel
within Our Solar System is completely ludicrous !
The day I go to Mars , it won't take me more that 6 hours from TO to
landing .... and going for a quick U-turn around the Moon to boost !

I feel like hearing praised being made to Bleriot for crossing La Manche
or
to the "de Montgolfier" bros for the first hot air balloon flight !
Pathetic !

Pathetic? I beg your pardon. Most of your comments appear to be mindless
attributions with no real substance on your part. That is pathetic.

I have a very passing interest in Geology. It is a weak subject for me,
and
am somewhat lost in the threads where that is discussed. Let there be no
doubt, I do recognize the importance of geology and the clues that
Geologiests can glean from the explorations. In fact, I consider that as
one of the main reasons for being there...to provide reliable and usable
information to the geologists.

Your comments that have aviation as a theme are mildly interesting. I am
a
Commercial Pilot, and have had an intense interest of aviation, and
aviation
history that spans back to when I was 8 or 9. My uncle's neighbor who
died
several years ago was signed off to solo by Wilbur Wright. His first
airplane was built by the Brothers. I know many pilots who flew combat
from
WWII to the very recent Gulf War. Peripherilly, I know one of the Apollo
Astronauts. Aviation has always been a strong point within my family. I
also know several engineers, techs and chemists who work for NASA. In
their
own right, they rank right up there. Even though I am talking NASA, I
also
include those who worked on the Beagle. Despite my own comparatively
small
accomplishments, I feel completely humbled to walk in the shadows of these
great men. I think it is important to honor those who have truly made
history, and those who are currently making history.

I have to wonder if my interests and appreciation have more substance than
your apprently superficial degredation of great accomplishments.

You can sit there clucking about how pathetic you find me or those who may
think like me...that is your opinion. You stick to the past, and I will
continue to be thrilled with the present and future.

Thanks for the post.



Nom de dieu, mais c'est pas possible une telle ignorance de notre milieu
!

--
Sir Jean-Paul Turcaud
Australian Mining Pioneer
Hydro & Mining Prospector _ Senior Geologist
Discoverer of Telfer; Kintyre & Nifty Mines_ Great Sandy Desert.of
Australia
Discoverer of the South Atlantic Submarine Gold Placers
( 40 Millions Tons estimate )
Founder of the TRUE GEOLOGY



~~Ignorance Is The Cosmic Sin, The One Never Forgiven ! ~~


"jbeck" a écrit dans le message de
...

"Alan Kilian" wrote in message
news:NzFQb.143186$xy6.634818@attbi_s02...

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Nice work everybody.



I am really amazed at the engineering and technical feat that the
rovers
represent as well. Truly amazing!

"Alan Kilian" wrote in message
news:NzFQb.143186$xy6.634818@attbi_s02...

Please send a word of thanks to all the boys and girls back at
JPL and at the other sites involved from all of us that have hiched
along on their Mars adventure.

I sure hope that they are just as excited as when they were little
kids and got a long-expected present delivered.

I get giddy thinking about those rovers driving around on Mars.

Do you realize that these things are driving around on MARS????

Cars on Mars controlled by NASA bars.

Congratulations to JPL and the MER EDL team for another inspirational job!
Opportunity's on Mars!

---
Michael Anthony
Hear my song "I Want To Be A Mars Explorer" @ http://ma.fihs.net

So the method they used is 3/3, I say we land everything on Mars that way.
Forget those totally rocket controlled descents, this bouncing ball method
is proven. I can't wait until we start bring some samples back and maybe
doing some seismic stuff.

Jason