Meanwhile, on Mars
After battling balky airbags, the Spirit rover finally got its wheels dirty yesterday. The mission so far has been a photographic bonanza--and the hits just keep on coming! (Digital photographers take note--the rover' s camera only has a 1 megapixel chip) First off, the rover will break out its robotic arm and investigate a patch of dirt next to to the lander that looks suspiciously like mud. Then, our intrepid robotic explorer will trek to "Sleepy Hollow", an impact crater through which the craft apparently bounced on touchdown. Finally, the craft will set out for these hills, about two kilometers away, hoping to get a better view of the surrounding landscape. Two kilometers is more than twice the rovers expected range, but there' s something oddly inspiring (to this blogger, at least) about the thought of Spirit striking out on a journey that it wasn't designed to complete.
If it could experience emotion, Spirit might be glad that it's in Gusev Crater instead of back on Earth in the Northeast right now.
Posted by:
jimoto on January 16, 2004 03:45 PM
Well, the one megapixel camera is not exactly a one megapixel camera. Each pixel is huge. Kind of like saying that the Pentagon and my great grandfather's outhouse are each just one building. Technically true, but my great grandfather's was a shithole. Literally.
Posted by:
samuelad on January 17, 2004 12:22 AM
who knew that outhouses could be so deadly??
Posted by:
bluesbravo on January 17, 2004 02:04 AM
who knew Apaches were so deadly?? (WARNING: RATED NC-17)
Posted by:
bluesbravo on January 17, 2004 08:22 PM
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