Not long ago we posted an appreciation of Spirit and Opportunity, the twin rovers that have been dutifully exploring the surface of Mars since 2004. We also noted that after surviving a brutal Martian dust storm, Opportunity was poised on the edge of the giant Victoria Crater in hopes of entering the crater in the days ahead. Now the time has come for Opportunity to boldly go where no rover has gone before. The AP reports:
Two months after surviving a giant dust storm, one of NASA's robotic rovers on Mars began a risky drive Tuesday into a crater blasted open by a meteor eons ago.
Scientists want the rover Opportunity to travel 40 feet down toward a bright band of rocks in the Victoria Crater. They believe the rocks represent the ancient surface of Mars and that studying them could shed clues on the planet's early climate.
On Tuesday morning, engineers sent commands to Opportunity to begin its journey, and the robot signaled a confirmation. It will be several hours before scientists know how well the drive is going, and the trek itself will take several days.
Opportunity can get in to the crater, but can it get out? NASA has decided that the scientific potential of Victoria Crater is so great that it's worth running the risk that the little rover might never be able to leave. Opportunity's biggest adventure may also be its last.
LINKS:
Opportunity Takes A Dip Into Victoria Crater (NASA press release, September 11, 2007)
Mars Exploration Rover Mission (NASA blog with latest status updates on Opportunity and Spirit)
Victoria Crater (Wikipedia page on the Martian crater Opportunity will explore)
PREVIOUSLY:
Opportunity and Spirit: The Little Rovers That Still Can
(Photo above: Opportunity's view from the rim of Mars' Victoria Crater, released by NASA on September 11, 2007. The rover will enter the crater from a point roughly 100 feet from this location.)
Comments