Weird New NASA Rovers

Weird New NASA Rovers Really Get Around

At some point on their five-year journey, Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity have both gotten their feet stuck in the soil, and NASA is taking notes for the design of the next generation of rovers. In 2005, Opportunity spent five weeks spinning her wheels in a dune later dubbed “Purgatory.” Last week, Spirit sank into a sandpit scientists are calling “Troy,” and could stay there for weeks — or forever. But rovers of the future may have an easier time of it. NASA scientists are building an army of prototypes with new and ever weirder ways to rove.

They're called the Cliffbot, Lemur, Athlete, Hopper, and Axel. These are starting to look more "alien" than the dune buggies of the past. Doesn't seem to be much to them. Wonder how they get their power?

Weird New Nasa Rover Really Get Around

Edit to add link, sorry about that.



[edit on 19-5-2009 by AlphaTier]

Hey can you post a link to these new rovers? I would like to see what they look like. Thanks.

Heres some pics
Cliffbot
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/c525ac277a9a.jpg[/atsimg]
Athlete
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a29811ffdcd0.jpg[/atsimg]
Lemur
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/78212797ea88.jpg[/atsimg]
Funny looking things! Heres a link that might help

-E-

[edit on 19-5-2009 by MysterE]

I have to say that the Hopper one is probably the coolest. As far as the most potential I'd have to say either the Cliffbot or Axel. They would provide a pretty good companion to the MSL.

Neat find

Mainstream science has always denied that there's current life in Mars. However, there are possibilities of terraforming the place since there's water locked in ice. So why are they spending millions (if not billions) of dollars on robots that get useless rocks or beam back pictures of rocks? Ok. There maybe is bacteria there but so what? Science has already acknowledged the idea that comets bring organic materials to planets in the first place not to mention how useless that will be.

Why not use that money on gradually terraforming the place? Or how about use their budget on robots that mines asteroids or whatever heavenly body is close by that has precious metals so they can bring in the cash instead ASAP.

I'm more of a skeptic when it comes to aliens but missions like this has always made me open to the probable lies that NASA is probably giving us.

[edit on 19-5-2009 by Unregistered]

reply to post by Unregistered


problem #1 mars has practically no electromagnetic field. If you have a way of firing up the iron core im sure lots of scientists would love to hear from you.

there are many many more problems with your suggestion but i think #1 does for starters.