RIP Spirit

[Gargamel]

Spirit has been laid to rest. The time for it to respond to calls from Earth has passed, and it has probably not survived the Martian winter.

http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-rover-down-spirit-stays-silent-110329.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

After, what, 6, 7 years? These things were designed to survive 90 days, at best. It is a true testament to how science can be done right.

[CCIP]

:salute:

It's done well!

[Growler]

Well, damn. That was one of NASA's longshots that just kept on comin' in.

Hopefully, the right people will take some form on consolation from the work that it was able to accomplish well beyond it's intended service life, and others will take inspiration from its success.

[Gargamel]

Opportunity is still going strong though. Amazing.

[AVGWarhawk]

Yes, these two explorers are simply awesome. Spirit has traversed her last crater.

[Growler]

In other NASA news: New Pictures of Mercury (http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/2011/03/first_image_from_mercury_orbit.html)

[Torplexed]

Well done Spirit! Should make an interesting museum piece someday if we ever get up there. :ping:

Yes, these two explorers are simply awesome. Spirit has traversed her last crater.

Next time they put rovers on Mars, they should go in matched pairs with a tow hook. :D

[JSLTIGER]

Opportunity is still going strong though. Amazing.

Yep...Opportunity is now 7 years old. Even James Kirk's Enterprise was only sent on a five year mission. Not bad for a robot that was supposed to last for 90 Martian days.

[Gargamel]

Next time they put rovers on Mars, they should go in matched pairs with a tow hook. :D

:D


But better yet, hydraulics on the solar panels so they can aim them better.

[Platapus]

It is probably sitting on some Martian Kid's dresser covered with stickers and all busted up.

"Gorp, if you are going to break all your toys, I will just give them away. There are poor kids on Venus who be grateful for toys like that"

[vienna]

The durability of the technology developed via NASA has always been amazing. It defies all logic when you hear about some dimwit politician or other critic of NASA who questions the expense of space exploration. I believe if there was an audit of all the benefits to everyday society derived from just the technology from these explorations, the returns would far outweigh the expense. That so much has been done for so relatively little expense is praiseworthy. No other aspect of the U.S. government has shown as great a return on investment as NASA. Compared to military expenditures ($250 ashtrays, $4500 toilet seats), the taxpayers are getting a bargain. Spirit was like buying an inexpensive (again, relatively) compact car and having it last and perform beautifully for a decade or more. That the crafts were named Spirit and Opportunity is apt; more things should be done with a sense of spirit and opportunity. RIP, Spirit: a mission well done.