News From Space

More news updates from Mars and Saturn
Source: Rohan News Agency

THE SPIRIT ROVER HAS A FLAT TIRE

The Mars rover Spirit, one of two robotic explorers on Mars has developed a problem with one of its six wheels, but NASA officials said Tuesday they believe the robot geologist can continue working.

The right front wheel has become balky, requiring more electrical current to turn, said Mark Adler, mission manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

Engineers are considering whether to simply continue using the wheel until it fails or drive on five wheels and use the problem wheel only when necessary. The Spirit rover also had a problem last week receiving commands from Earth.

This new problem with the wheel has prompted an outside watchdog commission to look into the very obvious mistake that JPL apparently made in not obtaining a premium AAA account for the rover before its launch. A citizen’s committee member was overheard to say that “It was pretty stupid not to have roadside service available for such an expensive vehicle.”

CASSINI PASSES THE RINGS

After a nearly seven-year voyage from Earth, the Cassini spacecraft is fast approaching the moment that scientists have dreamed of and planned for over the better part of their careers. The spacecraft is scheduled to swing into the orbit of Saturn on the evening of June 30.

So far, its 2.2 billion mile flight has been largely without incident. The tiny 4,700 lb. spacecraft’s trajectory is planned to put it near most of the moons of Saturn over the next few years.

Expectations are high for the $3.3 billion American-European mission, which is planned to last at least four years and could keep going for as long as a decade.”

The Cassini spacecraft has already passed through the rings of Saturn, and it was surprizingly discovered that the rings are made up almost entirely of billions of socks, millions of pieces of travel luggage, with a smattering of jewelry and keyrings. Puzzled scientists at JPL said that apparently none of the socks have a match.

Plans are being contemplated for an eventual way-station where people can claim their lost luggage.

Film at 11.