Mars Rover 2006 Update
The two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity,
completed their assigned three month mission of exploring
Mars in April 2004 and continued working. Both rovers
are still exploring as they enter 2006.
The Mars rovers have done more than
demonstrate the potential of unmanned surface exploration
of another planet. They have also inspired many students
to become involved in robotics. (See the accompanying
news story about FIRST
in this issue of The Citizen Scientist.)
Both Spirit and Opportunity have experienced
various glitches and problems since they completed their
original assignment nearly two years ago. Some of the
problems have been software issues and others have been
related to hardware malfunctions. So far their Jet Propulsion
Laboratory ground team has managed to resolve most issues,
and both rovers continue to explore the terrain on opposite
sides of Mars.
Prior to the mission, there was concern
that dust from the frequent sand storms on Mars would
coat the solar panels and even the camera lenses. As
can be seen in Fig. 2, this has not happened. The likely
reason is that occasional dust devils have blown away
most of the accumulated dust.
Opportunity's next destination is a
large formation called Victoria Crater. The crater is
some 800 meters (0.5 mile) across. According to John
Callas, deputy project manager and science manager,
"Victoria is a potential ‘time tunnel,' allowing access
to ancient martian material that otherwise would be
buried deep beneath the surface and inaccessible."
For full details about the two rovers
and their remarkable findings, visit the Mars
Exploration Rover Mission and begin looking through
the media releases, technical information and amazing
photographs. Forrest M. Mims III 
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