The Cellar - View Single Post - Okay, I Know It Isn't Houses or Food, But...

tw · 10-06-2006, 10:59 PM

Don't forget another fact. The Rovers were almost shut down. Having lasted far longer than predicted, the Rovers had return to Congress and the (we are smart) White House for more $millions. But NASA's objectives had been changed by the (we are smart) White House. NASAs' purpose is manned flight and colonization. Rovers are about science. Therefore the Rovers (like Hubble and nine environmental study satellites) all found funding denied. Rovers lucked out because they could rationalize it supported a 'Man to Mars' mission - which it does not. But politicians are too often lawyers - tend to believe what sounds good rather than what is good or necessary.

One Rover has lost use of and is dragging that wheel. Other traveled six kilometers to sit on the edge of a crater. Waiting for summer sun that would provide it with enough energy to get down there and to survive. Survival is a problem on a planet where temperature drops to something like -130 degree F. Somehow man will do something more useful than a robot in that kind of environment? Lawyer politicians tell us it is so.

Rovers have been taught new tricks since they arrived - science adapting as it learns. Rovers are now programmed to override functions when an interesting phenomenon occurs. By the time a dust devil is detected and Earth commands get sent, the dust devil has disappeared. Rovers were upgraded so that, for example, Rover will stop what it is doing and track a dust devil.

Due to something unique in Mars atmosphere, dusk and dawn occur two hours after and two hours before sunset and sunrise. So many science curiosities but no Martians yet. Eventually we expect to find the booth where Martians are selling tickets for their newly discovered metallic animal exhibit. Only then will we really know what a Rover is worth on Mars.

10-06-2006, 10:59 PM	#2
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Don't forget another fact. The Rovers were almost shut down. Having lasted far longer than predicted, the Rovers had return to Congress and the (we are smart) White House for more $millions. But NASA's objectives had been changed by the (we are smart) White House. NASAs' purpose is manned flight and colonization. Rovers are about science. Therefore the Rovers (like Hubble and nine environmental study satellites) all found funding denied. Rovers lucked out because they could rationalize it supported a 'Man to Mars' mission - which it does not. But politicians are too often lawyers - tend to believe what sounds good rather than what is good or necessary. One Rover has lost use of and is dragging that wheel. Other traveled six kilometers to sit on the edge of a crater. Waiting for summer sun that would provide it with enough energy to get down there and to survive. Survival is a problem on a planet where temperature drops to something like -130 degree F. Somehow man will do something more useful than a robot in that kind of environment? Lawyer politicians tell us it is so. Rovers have been taught new tricks since they arrived - science adapting as it learns. Rovers are now programmed to override functions when an interesting phenomenon occurs. By the time a dust devil is detected and Earth commands get sent, the dust devil has disappeared. Rovers were upgraded so that, for example, Rover will stop what it is doing and track a dust devil. Due to something unique in Mars atmosphere, dusk and dawn occur two hours after and two hours before sunset and sunrise. So many science curiosities but no Martians yet. Eventually we expect to find the booth where Martians are selling tickets for their newly discovered metallic animal exhibit. Only then will we really know what a Rover is worth on Mars. Last edited by tw; 10-07-2006 at 02:30 AM.