Spirit Mars Rover Moving Again

Feb 6, 2009
By Aerospace Daily & Defense Report



Controllers are driving NASA's Spirit Mars Exploration Rover once more, after a diagnostic test suggested the accelerometers that help the rover determine its orientation on the surface of Mars may be off by about 3 degrees.

Mission managers ordered the tests when the rover missed the sun with its camera on Martian sol 1802, one day after it failed to respond to its daily driving commands (Aerospace DAILY, Jan. 29).

Rover engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory continue to believe that a cosmic-ray hit probably shut down Spirit's flash memory temporarily, preventing it from storing the commands.

With renewed confidence that Spirit can safely be maneuvered, its drivers commanded it to continue its slow progress to the north away from the "Home Plate" feature, where it is looking for high concentrations of silica that may be evidence of ancient hot springs or steam vents.

On sol 1806 (Feb. 3) it moved about a foot before striking a buried rock with its inoperable right front wheel. Controllers were preparing commands to drive around the rock next week.

Artist's concept of Spirit Mars Exploration Rover: NASA