NASA Concedes Defeat In Effort To Free Mars Rover

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http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20100126/n...-free-rover.htm

 

[kegtapr]

Still lasted a hell of a lot longer than expected.

[Wacka]

Still sending back data, just can't go anywhere.Six years of use when it was expected to go only 3 months (24 X as long as expected)

[Jim in Anchorage]

Looks like it's stuck pretty bad Martians already looking to loot it

[Just Jack]

They should roll that other one over there and give it a push.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Looks like it's stuck pretty bad Martians already looking to loot it

 

 

Pretty cool tipped YJ!

 

Actually that looks like it would right itself if they can get the passenger rear just past that big rock... Fall right onto all fours!

 

Notice the rear diff. will slide right against that rock... Probably wishes there was a skid plate on that pumpkin.

[dib]

Cant they call AAA- Alien Automobile Association?

[LeviF]

http://xkcd.com/695/

[Steely Dan]

Still lasted a hell of a lot longer than expected.

 

Those suckers have done waaaaaayyyyyy more than could've been expected!! Now that rover is moving on to another important mission.

[LongLiveRalph]

Still lasted a hell of a lot longer than expected.

 

It's hard to believe those initial expectations. No doubt they release the "worst case" scenario so they look brilliant when the thing outlasts it's projections. But you can't really blame them. With the billions upon billions of dollars spent on these projects, taking them from conceptual idea to reality, if they said something was going to provide 5 years of data and it craps out after 2 years, taxpayers go apeshit.

 

It's a fairly decent business practice to keep the masses from getting unruly over unmet expectations. And NASA is hardly alone in this "time skewing" procedure. For example:

 

JetBlue lists their BUF --> JFK flights as depart 1PM, arrive 2:30PM, even though the flying time is 55 minutes. Helps to ensure on-time arrivals and builds in for potential take-off and gate delays, etc.

[ExiledInIllinois]

It's a fairly decent business practice to keep the masses from getting unruly over unmet expectations. And NASA is hardly alone in this "time skewing" procedure. For example:

 

JetBlue lists their BUF --> JFK flights as depart 1PM, arrive 2:30PM, even though the flying time is 55 minutes. Helps to ensure on-time arrivals and builds in for potential take-off and gate delays, etc.

 

At the lock when we have pleasure boats waiting in the scores for a commerical craft... I get on the loudspeaker and say it may take an hour or more. When I get them in at a 1/2 hour or less, they are as happy as pie.