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sitting in the MEPAG...
The Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) has been indispensable scientifically... a victory for drilling. ;-) It has spawned a new meaning for the word "ratting"...
Yep, sample return without mobility (or drilling) would be stupid. A quick grab-and-go return mission would have missed everything interesting at the MER sites.
Room is crowded. Lots of familiar faces... including Darlene Lim, who I'll meet again on Devon in three weeks. Very upbeat atmosphere, almost celebratory. No media, the results are all embargoed. Latest rock on Columbia Hills is called "Pot of Gold" (chuckle), lots of nodules.
Findings: direct comms link was little used, MER success depended on relays through orbiters. And having two separate sites surveyed...
"Cannot overemphasize the value of extensive mission ops training prior to landing."
"This mission is run by students and postdocs."
Total lifetime for MER rovers may go to 600 days, if luck and funding permit...
Yep, sample return without mobility (or drilling) would be stupid. A quick grab-and-go return mission would have missed everything interesting at the MER sites.
Room is crowded. Lots of familiar faces... including Darlene Lim, who I'll meet again on Devon in three weeks. Very upbeat atmosphere, almost celebratory. No media, the results are all embargoed. Latest rock on Columbia Hills is called "Pot of Gold" (chuckle), lots of nodules.
Findings: direct comms link was little used, MER success depended on relays through orbiters. And having two separate sites surveyed...
"Cannot overemphasize the value of extensive mission ops training prior to landing."
"This mission is run by students and postdocs."
Total lifetime for MER rovers may go to 600 days, if luck and funding permit...