RIP Spirit

Gargamel · 03-29-11, 06:48 PM

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...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 · 03-29-11, 07:02 PM

It's done well!

Growler · 03-29-11, 07:02 PM

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 · 03-29-11, 07:05 PM

Opportunity is still going strong though. Amazing.

AVGWarhawk · 03-29-11, 07:11 PM

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

Growler · 03-29-11, 07:17 PM

In other NASA news: New Pictures of Mercury

Torplexed · 03-29-11, 07:51 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

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.

JSLTIGER · 03-29-11, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gargamel

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 · 03-30-11, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

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

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

Platapus · 03-30-11, 05:33 PM

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 · 03-30-11, 06:32 PM

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.

03-29-11, 06:48 PM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	RIP Spirit 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...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. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

03-29-11, 07:02 PM	#2
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	It's done well! __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

03-29-11, 07:02 PM	#3
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

03-29-11, 07:05 PM	#4
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Opportunity is still going strong though. Amazing. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

03-29-11, 07:11 PM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Yes, these two explorers are simply awesome. Spirit has traversed her last crater. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-29-11, 07:17 PM	#6
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	In other NASA news: New Pictures of Mercury __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

03-30-11, 05:33 PM	#10
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	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" __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

03-30-11, 06:32 PM	#11
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	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.

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