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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NASA Rover on Strike

Mars Spirit fails to report for work

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(Newser) – NASA engineers are perplexed by a rebellious streak that has developed in its Martian roving robot, Spirit. It was expected to last just 90 days when it landed on Mars five years ago, but the robot has continued to send back data. This past weekend, however, Spirit failed to report for work and recorded no new data, reports Space.com.

In a bid to pinpoint Spirit's location, scientists ordered the robot on Monday to orient its cameras to the sun. Spirit responded yesterday that it had tried to follow orders, but couldn't find the sun. "We don't have a good explanation yet for the way Spirit has been acting for the past few days," said a NASA spokeswoman. "Our next steps will be diagnostic activities."

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Five years after it began exploring Mars, Spirit has failed to report for work.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Five years after it began exploring Mars, Spirit has failed to report for work.   (AP Photo/NASA)
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has developed an unexpected glitch which NASA scientists are struggling to diagnose.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has developed an unexpected glitch which NASA scientists are struggling to diagnose.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Spirit on the flank of
Spirit on the flank of "Husband Hill" on Mars. Five years after the NASA rover Spirit landed on Mars, it has developed a mysterious glitch.   (AP Photo/NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
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riffran
Jan 29, 09 4:34 AM CST
W.A.L.L.E........he he he....I hope the diagnostics give them a clue, and a solution Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Jan 29, 09 6:01 AM CST
90 days to 5 years. I think we got our tax dollars worth. Reply
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Mr.C
Jan 29, 09 12:26 PM CST
The launch of the robots was at a time when NASA had a heck of an image problem. I've always thought that the 90 days was an intentional underestimate. And why would it go down after 90 days anyhow. Reply
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