Road trip to Bonneville Crater continues for Spirit
BY JUSTIN RAY
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: February 17, 2004

Proving to be a real Mars hotrod, the Spirit rover has become the most traveled vehicle on the Red Planet, surpassing the distance accumulated by the Pathfinder rover nearly seven years ago.

"We certainly knew that was likely to occur, but it is good to see that it did after about 45 days on the surface," Richard Cook, the newly named Mars Exploration Rover project manager, said Tuesday.

Pete Theisinger, project chief for the past few years, has been selected to manage NASA's nuclear-powered Mars Science Laboratory mission scheduled for launch in 2009.


Spirit looking behind as its empty lander base and the tracks across the Martian surface. Credit: NASA/JPL
Download a larger version of image here

 
Spirit drove 21.6 meters (70.9 feet) to the north-northeast on Monday night (U.S. time), pushing its odometer to 108 meters (354 feet). The tiny Sojourner rover racked up 102 meters during its mission in 1997.

Spirit is heading to the impact crater nicknamed by scientists as Bonneville. Along the way, the rover is stopping to collect science data on rocks, tiny dunes and soil samples across the wind-swept Martian surface.

"We are doing robotic field geology," says Ray Arvidson, deputy principal investigator. "We are in the middle of a long set of drives with traverse science where we have started at the landing site and we are moving up to the rim of Bonneville Crater."

Mission officials elected to dispatch Spirit to the crater with the goal of studying rock layers and obtaining information about the planet's history, including the potential of a watery past.

"The idea is the impact crater would have overturned the stratigraphy and exposed it for our viewing pleasure," Arvidson said.


This mosaic image from Spirit's panoramic camera shows a forward-looking view. Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell
Download a larger version of image here

 
Spirit is expected to reach Bonneville in a couple of weeks, but the exact timeline depends on the amount of science activities performed en route.

"It depends on what we find between where we are now and where we are going. We are looking for new materials to stop and to make detailed measurements of," Arvidson said.

"The focus is on the traverse science and getting to the rim of Bonneville over the next dozen or so sols (Martian days). We should get there expeditiously. The rate at which we get there depends on what we discover in terms of new materials. Then once we are on the rim and finish making measurements, then the issue becomes can we get into the crater? What are the slopes of the walls? Or should we head for the Southeast Hills?"

Spaceflight Now Plus
Video coverage for subscribers only:
   VIDEO: SPIRIT'S FORWARD-LOOKING PANORAMA W/NARRATION QT
   VIDEO: SPIRIT PAN LOOKING BACK AT LANDER W/NARRATION QT
   VIDEO: TODAY'S MARS ROVER STATUS AND SCIENCE BRIEFING QT

   MORE: PREVIOUS MISSION COVERAGE!
   SUBSCRIBE NOW

Status quicklook
NASA has approved an extended mission for the Mars Exploration Rovers, handing them up to five months of overtime assignments as they finish their three-month prime mission.


Check the status center for complete coverage.


Apollo 11 special patch
Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Inside Apollo mission control
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Next ISS crew
Own a little piece of history with this official patch for the International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew. We'll ship yours today!
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Expedition 20
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Current Shuttle Mission Patch
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE



Ares Patch
The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.
 U.S. STORE


One Giant Leap
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Expedition 21
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Columbia Report
A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars Panorama

DISCOUNTED! This 360 degree image was taken by the Mars Pathfinder, which landed on the Red Planet in July 1997. The Sojourner Rover is visible in the image.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Apollo 11 Mission Report
Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD!
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Rocket DVD
If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Get e-mail updates
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose).
Enter your e-mail address:
MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2009 Spaceflight Now Inc.