www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

  .contact us |.about us
News > International News ... ...
Search:
    Advertisement
NASA's rover goes for first spin on Mars
( 2004-01-16 11:19) (Agencies)

To the great relief of NASA scientists, the Spirit rover rolled onto the surface of Mars and trundled across the salmon-colored soil Thursday for the first time since the vehicle bounced to a landing nearly two weeks ago.

The slow maneuver was a nail-biting moment for scientists who had feared that Spirit might become yet another casualty in the star-crossed history of Mars exploration.

"This is a big relief," said Rob Manning, manager of the entry, descent and landing portion of the mission. "Our wheels are finally dirty."

The six-wheeled vehicle had been perched atop its lander since its arrival on Mars on Jan. 3. On Thursday, it finally rolled down a ramp onto the surface of the Red Planet, covering a mere 10 feet, as planned. The trip took 78 seconds.

Engineers had worried that the golf-cart-size vehicle might become snagged on its ramp or damaged beyond repair, making it impossible to complete its mission. Scientists said the roll-off may have been the riskiest step the rover would ever take on Mars.

NASA engineers and scientists were misty-eyed and choked-up as they described the success of the maneuver, and raised a champagne toast at an early morning news conference.

"Mars now is our sandbox, and we are ready to play and learn," said Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Spirit is to spend three to four days parked beside its lander, giving it time to find its bearings and perform some preliminary analysis of the soil and pebbles around it. Then it will set off a meandering journey to prospect for geologic evidence that the now-dry planet was once wetter and hospitable to life.

"Now we are the mission that we all envisioned 3 1/2 years ago," said Jennifer Trosper, mission manager for surface operations.

Black-and-white pictures beamed from Spirit showed its two rear wheels on the martian soil, with its lander 32 inches behind it. Two parallel tracks led away from the lander through the cakey dust.

Originally, Spirit was supposed to roll straight off the lander on its ninth day on Mars. But the now-deflated air bags that cushioned the rover's landing blocked the main ramp, forcing Spirit to perform a slow, 115-degree turn to line its wheels up with a different ramp.

On Friday, Spirit was expected to deploy its robotic arm and take its first photographs with its microscopic imager.

NASA then plans for Spirit to begin a meandering trip in the direction of a crater about 825 feet away. Spirit was designed to travel dozens of yards a day.

Either of two rocks dubbed Adirondack and Sashimi is expected to be Spirit's first target once it starts rolling again. The rocks lie 2 to 3 yards from the rover.

The rover might also visit a nearby, shallow depression dubbed Sleepy Hollow — if there is enough time before its twin, Opportunity, lands Jan. 24 on the opposite side of the planet.

NASA wants to park Spirit for the three days immediately following Opportunity's arrival, to ease the burden on members of the $820 million double mission.

Even while parked 16 inches above Mars atop its lander, Spirit kept busy. It used its nine cameras to take at least 3,900 pictures of its surroundings. Mission scientists used those images, including sweeping panoramas, to chart the rover's next movements.

 
Close  
   
  Today's Top News   Top International News
   
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+Nation tops TV, cell phone, monitor production
(2004-02-05)
+Absence ... still makes China hot
(2004-02-05)
+Hu: Developing world in key role
(2004-02-04)
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+US court clears way for gay marriages
(2004-02-05)
+Pakistan nuke scientist asks forgiveness
(2004-02-05)
+Sharon ready for referendum on scrapping settlements
(2004-02-05)
   
  Go to Another Section  
     
 
 
     
  Article Tools  
     
 
 
     
   
        .contact us |.about us
  Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved  
主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美一区永久视频免费观看 | 好男人天堂网 | 精品国产一区二区三区在线 | 国产网站在线看 | 国产精品久久人人做人人爽 | 日本高清色本免费现在观看 | 亚洲精品久久久久中文字幕一区 | 国产专区第一页 | cao在线| 88精品视频 | 黄黄的网站在线观看 | 欧美在线一级毛片观看 | 国产后式a一视频 | 老司机黄色影院 | 波多野结衣aⅴ在线 | 日韩精品一区二区三区高清 | 亚洲精品午夜在线观看 | 欧美午夜精品久久久久免费视 | 国产精品手机视频一区二区 | 国产日韩一区二区三区在线播放 | 美女作爱网站 | 亚洲巨乳自拍在线视频 | 国产在视频线精品视频www666 | 免费观看一级欧美在线视频 | 又黄又湿又爽吸乳视频 | 欧美黄色特级视频 | 伊人婷婷色香五月综合缴激情 | 国产成人精品男人的天堂538 | 99re6这里有精品热视频在线 | 国内自拍偷拍视频 | 亚洲视频在线看 | 综合另类| 91精选视频 | 亚久久伊人精品青青草原2020 | 国产成人一区二区三区影院免费 | 呦女亚洲一区精品 | 国产精品久久福利网站 | 精品视频免费在线观看 | 久久精品一区二区三区四区 | 国产最猛性xxxxxx69交 | 日产国产精品久久久久久 |