Despite NASA’s best efforts, the stricken Spirit rover’s position in a Martian sand trap now looks set to become its final resting place.
NASA Spirit rover to remain stuck in its Martian sand trap. Image: NASA.
Moreover, with recent attempts to free the rolling scientific research laboratory all failing, the U.S. space administration has officially abandoned its rescue plans.
According to Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program, the soft soil within the crater where Spirit is currently lodged is something of “a golfer’s worst nightmare… no matter how many strokes you take, you just can’t get it out.”
However, although the Mars rover has now been written off in terms of fulfilling its core purpose of exploring the Red Planet’s inhospitable surface, NASA still hopes to utilise the vehicle’s limited mobility in order to adjust the angle of its solar panels and help it survive the coming Martian winter.
NASA has said the solar arrays are presently sitting at an unfavourable tilt of nine degrees to the south and need to be moved in a more northerly direction to gather maximum amounts of sunlight.
If the tilt change cannot be made, NASA fears the craft will slip into a triggered hibernation that will cause stored solar energy to be solely channelled into charging the battery rather than keeping its electronics from freezing.
If pulled successfully through the winter, Spirit should still be able to provide NASA with valuable research information and data specific to Mars.
For example, the sand and soil around the rover is filled with unusual sulfate salts and minerals, while the vehicle’s fixed positioning will also allow NASA to study atmospheric conditions on Mars and how the planet moves on its axis.
The hardy Spirit rover has been working on the surface of Mars for a total of six years – despite only being designed to function for a limited 90-day mission.
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