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Red Planet in the Round
January 6th, 2009 | Tags: Mars, MER B - Opportunity, natural color | Published in latest, pictures | 3 Comments
A panoramic view of Opportunity’s current location, rendered in approximate true color and assembled into a 360-degree polar projection by James Canvin. These shots were taken just before solar conjunction, which has now ended. The rovers aren’t on the move again yet, but that should change in the coming days.
Below is a recent close-up of Opportunity’s top deck, so coated in dust now that it’s beginning to blend in with the surrounding landscape.
Sent by: MER-B | From: Mars | Sent: Nov, 2008 | Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell/Canvin | Image source
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January 7th, 2009at 10:21 am(#)
I’m picturing a future, simple, cost-effective mission: a light-weight lander that can hop from place to place on small jets; one ‘eye’ to find things; one robotic arm with a single tool; that tool being a brush. The lander — let’s call it the Fuller Brush Lander — will seek out any other robotic explorers, land near them and brush them off, then hop off to the next one. Once a year visits should be enough.
You heard it here first.
January 8th, 2009at 5:29 am(#)
I’m disappointed, Rob. I thought that was a task you did not want to delegate (too risky for just a robot to do), but wanted to do it yourself…
A little compressed keyboard spray can or better yet, some glass plus would do the trick. With a light coat of Endust afterward to repel charged dust particles. I’ll get your cleaning bucket ready.
You sure you want to delegate this?
January 8th, 2009at 1:53 pm(#)
It’s just that I’m beginning to think all my hints are falling on deaf ears. But robots are the In Thing, so I hoped to get some action by suggesting a practical little one.
I remain ever hopeful.