Spirit finds Martian bedrock
Posted: Sun, Jul 18, 2004, 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT)
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, moving backwards to deal with a faulty wheel, has encountered a bedrock outcrop that may contain some of the oldest rocks found yet during the mission. Spirit, which has traveled over 3.5 kilometers since landing in Gusev Crater, is now traveling backwards because of increased friction with the rover's right front wheel. By moving backward rover controllers effective drag the balky wheel along, rotating it only occasionally in rough terrain. Despite these problems, the rover continues to perform good science, and recently found a bedrock outcrop containing some of the oldest rocks found to date. Spirit is expected to find similar outcrops as it moves up the Columbia Hills. Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, continues to inch down into the crater Endurance. Scientists have found a puzzling increase in the amount of chlorine in the rock layers as Opportunity travels deeper into the crater.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, moving backwards to deal with a faulty wheel, has encountered a bedrock outcrop that may contain some of the oldest rocks found yet during the mission. Spirit, which has traveled over 3.5 kilometers since landing in Gusev Crater, is now traveling backwards because of increased friction with the rover's right front wheel. By moving backward rover controllers effective drag the balky wheel along, rotating it only occasionally in rough terrain. Despite these problems, the rover continues to perform good science, and recently found a bedrock outcrop containing some of the oldest rocks found to date. Spirit is expected to find similar outcrops as it moves up the Columbia Hills. Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, continues to inch down into the crater Endurance. Scientists have found a puzzling increase in the amount of chlorine in the rock layers as Opportunity travels deeper into the crater.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, October 28
Turkey detains 85 after raids on gang suspected over Starlink fire in Poland
TVP World — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) Ukraine's Starlink woes spur Europe to look for non-Musk alternatives
Axios — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) U.S. Space Force Wants Multivendor ‘GPS Gen’ Constellation
Aviation Week — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) Pentagon to Give Startup Stoke Space $150M Loan for New Launch Pad
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:07 am ET (1007 GMT) The Pentagon’s Commercial Space Reserve Goes Operational
Aviation Week — 6:07 am ET (1007 GMT) |
