Rough Red Planet Rocks Rip Rover Curiosity Wheels

universetoday.com ^ | December 26, 2013 | Ken Kremer on

[BenLurkin]

“Dents and holes were anticipated, but the amount of wear appears to have accelerated in the past month or so,” Erickson noted.

“It appears to be correlated with driving over rougher terrain. The wheels can sustain significant damage without impairing the rover’s ability to drive. However, we would like to understand the impact that this terrain type has on the wheels, to help with planning future drives.”

The team is now inspecting the new imagery acquired of the wheels and will decide if a course alteration is in order.

“Routes to future destinations for the mission may be charted to lessen the amount of travel over such rough terrain, compared to smoother ground nearby,” says NASA.

[Oliviaforever]

I don’t guess there is a Discount Tire nearby.

[cripplecreek]

Say that 3 times fast.

[BenLurkin]

Can’t say it one time fast!

[mkmensinger]

I wonder if they bought the road hazard insurance?

[fso301]

Seems to me that if this thing has only traveled a few miles at a snail’s pace and the wheels are already banged up, the design was poor and the wheels were never tested on earth.

[DannyTN]

You’d think that with gravity only 38% that of earth, it wouldn’t do much damage.

Should have sent a monster truck. What were they thinking?

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


Sorry ... your statement is completely absurd ...


.

[DannyTN]

Besides to go all that way and not be able to mudhog if you found water is just crazy!

[piytar]

Hasn’t the Rover already lasted WAY beyond its design specs?

[familyop]

"I don’t guess there is a Discount Tire nearby."

Good one. Discount Tire should be the first to ship tires to settlers in the future there, and the settlers will need to learn to mount and balance their own tires.

[JoeProBono]

[ClearCase_guy]

Weally?

[blueunicorn6]

Just floor it babeeee! Pedal to the metal and fly over those rocks. That’s what my youngest stepdaughter would do.

[familyop]

BTW, UPS delivers to my remote area (much like Mars, climate-wise and road-wise), although FedEx doesn’t.

[fso301]

Sorry ... your statement is completely absurd ...

And you say that because?

[piytar]

Sorry was thinking of Spirit. This is Curiousity. Getting there though.

[BenLurkin]

I don’t think so. I think it intended from the start to climb mt sharp

[Fightin Whitey]

Wheelie!

[MV=PY]

That ripping is strange. I wonder how thick the wheels are.

It looks like it might be a materials failure.

Made in China?