LATimes Editorial: In the Cold Light of Day (on still going Mars rovers)

[Dudley_DUright]

Even one year after landing, nine full months after they were supposed to perish in the frigid distant dust of our solar system, it's amazing to ponder those twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. They are still obeying directions to poke into the geologic secrets of Mars, 207 million miles above their Pasadena control room.

Just getting these twin 384-pound robot carts to Mars last January and landing safely in bouncing air bags with unfolding ramps, wheels, antennas and camera arms was a stellar achievement. There was ground-bound joy among engineers who'd invested years of their lives envisioning, building and launching the probes. But today, these contraptions resembling cluttered coffee tables still radio back research that uncovers the history of Earth and the possibility of other life, past or future, out there somewhere.

Mars, it need not be announced, is a hostile place. About half the size of Earth with the same land area, Mars has one-third our gravity, probably a major reason fierce solar winds could so successfully strip Mars' atmosphere. But what used to be there? The rovers' key finding: Mars once had liquid water, more Earth-like. Drilling and brushing rocks during more than a mile's travel each, they've found volcanic rocks and sediment from both water and wind, indicating climate cycles of wet and dry.

They've even detected mini-dust devils whirling about, redistributing Martian soil; the same winds apparently wipe clean the rover lenses. One rover found and photographed its own heat shield, jettisoned red-hot when its chutes deployed. This may allow planners to improve, even lighten, the shield for the next Mars mission, in 2009

more...


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-mars9jan09,1,4976494.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

Here is to Spirit and Oppportunity. Great job guys. Keep up the good work. :toast:

Don't miss any repeats of the PBS NOVA program on the Mars Rovers titled "Welcome to Mars" (check local listings or view online at link below).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/