Hell, make it a planter.

-- NASA manager

Shoulda put bigger tires on it.

AMAZING............

US mission lands safely on Mars
January 4, 2004

The Spirit rover survived the perilous plunge through the Martian atmosphere after a seven-month voyage from Earth.

Obama apologized to Mars and sent them $200B for the inconvenience.

#5 | Posted by wisgod

I was wondering how long it would take.

(Did he bow before the Martian King?) Sorry, could not help myself.

The little fucker ran much longer then it was suppose to. I think we got our money's worth out of that one.

Shoulda put bigger tires on it.

#2 | POSTED BY HOSER AT 2010-01-26 08:23 PM

The next ones will.

'Spirit' and 'Opportunity' were about the size of a small riding mower while the next generation rover, 'Curiosity', will be more like a jeep.

..And here's an image showing the difference in size between 'Curiosity' and the current rovers.
cdn.physorg.com
OCU
#8 | Posted by oldCADuser at 2010-01-27 02:03 AM

Scary-looking - not the kind of polite 50's design we love in our 'bots.

What's inside of that carapace? Does it jump and glide or launch helicopters? What will it use to distract the giant Martian cats? Can it climb or bake a cupcake?

Seriously though - I'm dissatisfied with the resolution of the rover images - I think Blackberry's offer higher megapixel.

Anyone call AAA?

"I'm dissatisfied with the resolution of the rover images "

Picky, picky, picky ...

How sad. A three month mission has miraculously gone on for six years now? Spirit deserves the rest after the work she's done for us. Thank you spirit.

And a congratulations and thank you to NASA/JPL. They really hit the ball out of the park when all we were looking for was a bunt.

Obama apologized to Mars and sent them $200B for the inconvenience.

#5 | Posted by wisgod

(Did he bow before the Martian King?) Sorry, could not help myself.

#6 | Posted by chickenrancher

Okay, where's Goat to complain about somebody politicizing a non-political article?

The Rovers & NASA did an amazing job, given the Rovers limited power (and with a little luck from windstorms cleaning their solar panels). NOVA or the Discovery channel had an episode about the ad hocing that as done once they found out the Rovers were able to keep on going. Neat stuff.

Let me control Spirit. I'll flip it in reverse, spin the wheels faster and faster, try it in first gear, gradually spin the wheels faster and faster, then give up. It's worth a try.

Hey man. Ya gotta have hunnert pounds feed in the trunk, couple old rugs to slip under the tares, and rock it from go ahead to get back until she grabs then spin them wheels.

How about fitting future models with a scaled down one of these connected to a tiny winch:

Send someone out to Arizona where the "Mars" rovers is stuck... and unstick it.

Wow the spirit and rover put in some major overtime. I think they landed in 2004 and were spec built to go 9 months and 3/4 of a mile!

Possibilities for future Martian Rovers: An inflatable helium balloon or an attached Jet Pack that will lift and move a stuck Rover to another location!

All you need to get out of a sand trap is a good sand wedge.

All you need to get out of a sand trap is a good sand wedge.

I'm going to go make myself a ham and swiss sand wedge right now AAMOF

"Shoulda put bigger tires on it."

Bigger tires mean bigger wheels, and even on Mars, I don't think a set of 22-inch rims is safe left unguarded.

Bigger tires mean bigger wheels, and even on Mars, I don't think a set of 22-inch rims is safe left unguarded.

You got that right:

"The space agency NASA has conceded defeat in its battle to free the Spirit rover from its Martian sand trap."

Sand trap? Can only mean my people have taken down yet another Amereekin drone. We will reverse engineer and destory you with it!

Lulululululululululululululu!

Sincerely,

Tosser

Obama apologized to Mars and sent them $200B for the inconvenience.

Leave it to a republican to put a negative connotation on that symbol of American ingenuity and scientific success. It's no wonder they don't listen to the best scientists America has to offer. They hate them for political reasons.

#21-Goat, I noticed you didn't comment on righties throwing politics into a non-political article.

A little hypocritical, are we?

#21-Goat, I noticed you didn't comment on righties throwing politics into a non-political article.

A little hypocritical, are we?

???

#21 was me making a bad pun. OK. If it make you happy, "damn those righties making a non-political thing political. Please ignore the sand wedge/sandwich pun"

Happy?

I seriously doubt there is a Mars. The very idea of Mars is a socialist plot by lefty-commiie pinhead euro-trash scientists.

grow up, boyd. The "righty-says-this-outrageous-
thing" schtick you do every night is as childish as the assign false positions one you are so famous for.

Surely there's a blog in this big ole internet that accepts 13 YO mentality posts with open arms. This one ain't it, though.

a socialist plot by lefty-commiie pinhead euro-trash scientists.

#29 | Posted by BetelG

That was sort of cute the first time you trotted it out. But, after a couple of hundred times, it's gotten a bit stale.

LOL, Jeff. I guess it's not just me who finds boy(d)'s schtick tiresome.

Watch this, jeff -- he'll be going to bed any minute. He can't stand anyone commenting on his stupid schtick.

3
2
1

"Goodnight blog"

boy(d)

Can only mean my people have taken down yet another Amereekin drone.

No, this is the "Mars" rover.

The one that's stuck in Arizona.

We will reverse engineer and destory you with it!

Pakistan's drone program is for use against India, not the US.

Lulululululululululululululu!

WTF???

No, this is the "Mars" rover.

The one that's stuck in Arizona.

You've been standing too close to da bOoB, tosser. LOL

Speaking of da bOoB, he's been coming to your defense lately, boy(d). Did you notice? Do you pay him? If not, I think a thank-you note is in order.

Looks like I stunned boy(d). LOL

You've been standing too close to da bOoB, tosser. LOL

How come the camera doesn't go around 360 in real time? Because it would accidentally take a pic of the Taco-Bell behind it.

"Panorama shot" my ass.

Do you pay him?

Does he pay in money... or "services"?

That is the question.

That is the question.

It's one I am afraid to ask. There's not enough mind bleach in the world to erase the image of a wrong answer.

I think you are correct. Some things are better left hanging in the air.

I think you are correct. Some things are better left hanging in the air.

Did you ever see the movie "This is Spinal Tap"? If not, you have to. It's a classic. It's a well done spoof about a bad rock and roll band and their decline. Anyway, there's a scene from it reminds me of the above:

[When asked what happened to their first drummer]
David St. Hubbins: He died in a bizarre gardening accident...
Nigel Tufnel: Authorities said... best leave it... unsolved.

Oh yes, there is another line from that same scene when asked about the death of another drummer (the drummers in this band always died mysteriously). It goes something like: (the line is not in IMDB to copy and paste)

"He choked on vomit"

"Yes, but it wasn't his own vomit. They don't know whose vomit it was. You can't really dust for vomit"

I guess you have to see the movie.

Did you ever see the movie "This is Spinal Tap"?

I don't think so ... but I'll find it online, I'm sure.

And .... I got it! Thanks... always looking for good stuff to watch.

"He choked on vomit"

"Yes, but it wasn't his own vomit. They don't know whose vomit it was. You can't really dust for vomit"

Why are they talking like I might?

Seems to be a British movie. LOL

I think you'll like it. IMDB.com gives it 7.9 (of ten) stars. A very good rating for them.

Also available as a torrent:

I think you'll like it. IMDB.com gives it 7.9 (of ten) stars.

Let me finish my daily download of porno and comic books... then I will get it. It's 700MB... will take me about an hour. Will watch tonight.

Seems to be a British movie. LOL

The band is British, but it's an American movie. In fact the movie is a spoof documentary of the British band on an American tour. The tour starts off in a grand fashion, but goes downhill. I'll not give more details. It'll spoil it for you.

Will watch tonight.

Let me know what you think

Let me know what you think

Will do.

#48: I wonder if the "Stonehenge" scene is in youtube. That one is great. Also the scene with those pods that don't open, etc. LOL

Getting the movie....

Can't they drive the other rover over there and throw a hook to catch hold and pull it out?

Can't they drive the other rover over there and throw a hook to catch hold and pull it out?

They need some of those good old boys up there. They love pulling out stuck vehicles.

They need some of those good old boys up there. They love pulling out stuck vehicles.

That's an understatement. What else can you do with one of those stupid looking mudder trucks.

"How come the camera doesn't go around 360 in real time?"

OK OK.... no Taco Bell... LOL

So this little puppy got stuck? Pity. They could've added some sort of air mattress under the thing to lift it's wheels or something... some semi-clever device to stop it from getting stuck.

The little fucker ran much longer then it was suppose to. I think we got our money's worth out of that one.

#7 | Posted by Whatsleft

Agreed, but one can't help feel sadness at this point.

It was an awesome run!

Lots of 'spirit' in Spirit!

It just sucks not having anti-gravity.

"Can't they drive the other rover over there and throw a hook to catch hold and pull it out?"

Opportunity is on the other side of the planet...it would be a VERY long drive.

".it would be a VERY long drive"

ROAD TRIP!!!

I know old Oppy ain't got no hook no-ways, but they ought to see if they could drive it all that way, just for fun.

"I know old Oppy ain't got no hook no-ways, but they ought to see if they could drive it all that way, just for fun."

It would be a LONG drive...right now she's about 7 miles from the crater that they are driving her to and it's expected to take about another year to get there. These vehicles are very very slow...getting around the globe to Spirit would take a LONG time.