Philosophy
Mars Rover Spirit
January 3rd, 2004 to May 25th, 2011
NASA will cease any further attempts to make contact with the long-lived Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, which last communicated with Earth on March 22, 2010. A transmission that will end on Wednesday, May 25, will be the last in a series of attempts.
Extensive communications activities during the past 10 months also have explored the possibility that Spirit might reawaken as the solar energy available to it increased after a stressful Martian winter without much sunlight.
With inadequate energy to run its survival heaters, the rover likely experienced colder internal temperatures last year than in any of its prior six years on Mars. Many critical components and connections would have been susceptible to damage from the cold.
Engineers' assessments in recent months have shown a very low probability for recovering communications with Spirit.
Communications assets that have been used by the Spirit mission in the past, including NASA's Deep Space Network of antennas on Earth, plus two NASA Mars orbiters that can relay communications, now are needed to prepare for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission. MSL is scheduled to launch later this year.
"We're now transitioning assets to support the November launch of our next generation Mars rover, Curiosity," said Dave Lavery, program executive for solar system exploration.
"However, while we no longer believe there is a realistic probability of hearing from Spirit, the Deep Space Network may occasionally listen for any faint signals when the schedule permits."
Spirit landed on Mars on Jan. 3, 2004, for a mission designed to last three months. After accomplishing its prime-mission goals, Spirit worked to accomplish additional objectives. Its twin, Opportunity, continues active exploration of Mars.
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- Saturday, November 26th At 10:02am Est..."curiosity" To Be Launched
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- Soon..."curiosity" Will Be "up, Up, And Away" Towards Mars...november 25th, 2011
"NASA: New Mars rover will look for the ingredients of life" November 10th, 2011 Los Angeles Times If you think that people who believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life are kooks, you probably haven't talked to a NASA space scientist...
- Rover "spirit" Is Now Permanently Stationary
Spirit's last tracks. This view from Spirit's navigation camera shows tracks left by the rover as it drove backward, dragging its inoperable right-front wheel, to the location where the rover became trapped in soft sand in April 2009. It's...
- Death On Mars
Mars rover Spirit The little guys, Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, have done more and lasted longer than ever anticipated...and now the demise of Spirit may be imminent. "Energy Levels Reach Record Low For Fading Spirit Of Mars" June 3rd, 2008 ...
Philosophy
Deceased--Mars rover Spirit
Mars Rover SpiritJanuary 3rd, 2004 to May 25th, 2011
"Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Laid To Rest"
May 25th, 2011
Mars Daily
May 25th, 2011
Mars Daily
NASA will cease any further attempts to make contact with the long-lived Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, which last communicated with Earth on March 22, 2010. A transmission that will end on Wednesday, May 25, will be the last in a series of attempts.
Extensive communications activities during the past 10 months also have explored the possibility that Spirit might reawaken as the solar energy available to it increased after a stressful Martian winter without much sunlight.
With inadequate energy to run its survival heaters, the rover likely experienced colder internal temperatures last year than in any of its prior six years on Mars. Many critical components and connections would have been susceptible to damage from the cold.
Engineers' assessments in recent months have shown a very low probability for recovering communications with Spirit.
Communications assets that have been used by the Spirit mission in the past, including NASA's Deep Space Network of antennas on Earth, plus two NASA Mars orbiters that can relay communications, now are needed to prepare for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission. MSL is scheduled to launch later this year.
"We're now transitioning assets to support the November launch of our next generation Mars rover, Curiosity," said Dave Lavery, program executive for solar system exploration.
"However, while we no longer believe there is a realistic probability of hearing from Spirit, the Deep Space Network may occasionally listen for any faint signals when the schedule permits."
Spirit landed on Mars on Jan. 3, 2004, for a mission designed to last three months. After accomplishing its prime-mission goals, Spirit worked to accomplish additional objectives. Its twin, Opportunity, continues active exploration of Mars.
- Lego Space Kit...mars Curiosity Rover
"Mars fans vote to immortalise Curiosity rover in Lego" by Lisa Grossman June 18th, 2013 New Scientist NASA's Mars Curiosity rover may already have discovered the first definitive evidence that the Red Planet was once suited to life – but only...
- Saturday, November 26th At 10:02am Est..."curiosity" To Be Launched
The Mars Science Laboratory, bolted inside the payload fairing of an Atlas V rocket, is hoisted into place at Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. "Curiosity Rover Bound for Mars" by Suzanne Presto November 22nd, 2011...
- Soon..."curiosity" Will Be "up, Up, And Away" Towards Mars...november 25th, 2011
"NASA: New Mars rover will look for the ingredients of life" November 10th, 2011 Los Angeles Times If you think that people who believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life are kooks, you probably haven't talked to a NASA space scientist...
- Rover "spirit" Is Now Permanently Stationary
Spirit's last tracks. This view from Spirit's navigation camera shows tracks left by the rover as it drove backward, dragging its inoperable right-front wheel, to the location where the rover became trapped in soft sand in April 2009. It's...
- Death On Mars
Mars rover Spirit The little guys, Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, have done more and lasted longer than ever anticipated...and now the demise of Spirit may be imminent. "Energy Levels Reach Record Low For Fading Spirit Of Mars" June 3rd, 2008 ...