Oppurtunity has arrived.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-01-25 12:56am

And it appears to be doing pretty well so far.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-25 01:10am

That is good news considering the recent problems with Spirit.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-01-25 01:17am

They've figured out a way to get around the problems with the spirit, and it should be back to transmitting data in a few days, although with a somehwat reduced computer capacity.

Eframepilot · Post by **Eframepilot** » 2004-01-25 03:37am

Let's hope the Martians keep their fillthy little green hands off of Opportunity.

You do know that's why all the other probes have failed.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-25 12:23pm

Hopefully no storms/martians/gravometric interference stop this one- there seems to be a whole lot of dicoveries being made very quickly by the Spirit, and with Bush's initiative (make your own jokes) we'll need as much info as quickly as possible.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-01-25 01:31pm

The Aliens wrote:gravometric interference

Get this man some antifreeze.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-26 01:17am

Why not power rovers with RTGs ? Conventional solar powered rovers last only a few months because their batteries can recharge / discharge for only so many times before failing. RTG powered rovers would have a lot more power letting them travel faster, power more equipment and work at night meaning they will be doing science faster. And RTG powered rover will last for years so we wont need to send rovers every time Mars comes close to Earth.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-01-26 01:23am

God, what incredible picutures off of this rover.

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-01-26 11:06am

Any martian space nymphos?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-01-26 11:36am

evilcat4000 wrote:Why not power rovers with RTGs ? Conventional solar powered rovers last only a few months because their batteries can recharge / discharge for only so many times before failing. RTG powered rovers would have a lot more power letting them travel faster, power more equipment and work at night meaning they will be doing science faster. And RTG powered rover will last for years so we wont need to send rovers every time Mars comes close to Earth.

It's not the batteries that kill the rovers as I recall, it's the fact that they eventually freeze solid during thw winter months. An RTG might provide enough energy to avoid that though. However RTG's are also quite heavy and expensive. That means a lot more cost and risk building and landing the thing. That's very bad, and with so many landers failing not a risk you'd want to take. There could also be pesky political issues with landing plutonium dioxide on the Martian surface, even if the fears are groundless.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-01-26 11:55am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
It's not the batteries that kill the rovers as I recall, it's the fact that they eventually freeze solid during thw winter months. An RTG might provide enough energy to avoid that though. However RTG's are also quite heavy and expensive. That means a lot more cost and risk building and landing the thing. That's very bad, and with so many landers failing not a risk you'd want to take. There could also be pesky political issues with landing plutonium dioxide on the Martian surface, even if the fears are groundless.

Thats why you repackage it, paint it green and call it the eco-battery.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2004-01-26 12:41pm

evilcat4000 wrote:Why not power rovers with RTGs ? Conventional solar powered rovers last only a few months because their batteries can recharge / discharge for only so many times before failing. RTG powered rovers would have a lot more power letting them travel faster, power more equipment and work at night meaning they will be doing science faster. And RTG powered rover will last for years so we wont need to send rovers every time Mars comes close to Earth.

Short answer, a rover has to move. An RTG is a lump of plutonium with shielding and a bunch of other stuff. As a result, it's quite cumbersome and heavy. Viking could get away with carrying one because it was big, and didn't have to go anywhere.

And the limited lifespan of a rover isn't due to the batteries alone. Those solar panels collect dust and get damaged by cosmic radiation during their time on Mars. Mars also has seasons. so the relative strength of sunlight falling on a particular point of the planet's surface changes through the year.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-01-26 12:47pm

According to USA Today, in 2009 a nuclear-powered Rover is supposed to go to Mars in 2009 and roam about for ~3 years. Sounds REALLY neat. imagine the leaps in tech from now til then, too! *drools*