Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Spirit Encounters Soft Ground on Mars
<< Yesterday 1.06.2009 Tomorrow >>
Spirit Encounters Soft Ground on Mars
Credit & Copyright: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, JPL, NASA
Explanation: Will Spirit be able to free itself from soft ground on Mars? The robotic Spirit rover currently rolling across Mars ran into unexpectedly soft ground last month while exploring the red planet. A worry is that the ground is so soft that Spirit won't be able to free itself, will have to stay put and thereafter study what it can from its current position near an unusual martian land feature named Home Plate. Pictured above, the front left wheel appears to be primarily digging itself in when spun, while on the other side, the front right wheel no longer spins and is dragged by the five year old mechanical explorer. In the distance, rocks and rusty dirt fill the alien landscape in front of the distant Husband Hill. NASA continues to study the situation, and engineers and scientists have not yet run out of ideas of how to use Spirit's six wheels. Far across Mars, Spirit's twin Opportunity continues on its two year trek toward Endeavour crater.

Free Lecture: An APOD editor will review great space images this Friday in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < June 2009  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930




Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: Spirit rover - Mars
Publications with words: Spirit rover - Mars
See also:
All publications on this topic >>