Spirit Mars expedition case of 1.5-meter-high mound of block (Figure).

<P> Keywords: Spirit Mars Exploration </ P> <P> </ P> <P align=center> </ P> <P align=center> </ P> <P> World Scientific reports [tech. .]: According to NASA's Space Network reported that, in order to spend the coming summer and the ensuing winter, the "Spirit" Mars is a shortcut, to the south side of the destination, but in advancing the process of being an elevation of more .low accumulation of loose soil on the plateau in front blocking the path. .</ P> <P> "Spirit" had to bypass the piece called "home plate" of the Highlands, rather than directly from above it through. .2008 "Spirit" in the "home plate" spent the north, this upland soil piled up by the hard, flat top, an area with similar baseball field, this high ground about 5 feet higher than the surrounding ground .(about 1.52 meters). .Although it has changed the route of the "Spirit" has been in accordance with its summer program, began a silica-rich rocks on Mars to collect more if the previous hot water or steam-related information. .</ P> <P> However, even if the "Spirit" select bypass routes to the south side of the goal, the other side of Mars than in the sister rover "Opportunity" land-based expedition travel is shorter. ."Spirit" and "Opportunity" are on the surface of Mars landing in 2004, according to initial plans, they will run on the red planet in 3-month task, but now they have the running time of more than 5 years. .Responsible for the control of the two Mars rover scientists and engineers chosen for their destinations in 2009 were steep, "von Braun" and the mound is 150 feet in diameter, irregular basin, "Goddard (Goddard) .. " .When Mars comes the summer, when energy becomes sufficient, alongside this approach can provide them with access to a major discovery in place, and Mars in the year-end 2009, the Arctic winter comes, provide a vehicle for the two Mars .haven. .Now comes the spring of the southern hemisphere of Mars. .</ P> <P> scientists "von Braun" mounds and "Goddard" very interested in Basin, he thought "Spirit" may be here to find more of Mars in the past the existence of this place .plenty of water and frequent evidence of volcanic activity. .Now "Spirit" has been south road about 200 meters. .In charge of the rover's team had hoped to climb it, "home plate", and then to the south of the "von Braun" mounds and "Goddard" Basin moving. .South to reach the destination, they first let the "Spirit" spent the winter through the "home plate." .But the "Spirit", a right front wheel broke down in 2006, and now it has only five wheels can be a normal rotation, it can not use five wheels climb slopes. .</ P> <P> 1 month and 2 months, "Spirit" from the "home plate" down to about 50 feet from the east side of the gradient of a slope forward. .The loosened soil to promote the research team chose a different route. .Pasadena, Calif. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is responsible for the two Mars rover project manager John Callas said: "The 'courage' in the two most recent attempt to climb the 'home plate' efforts did not achieve .new progress. To this end, we command 'courage' in along the 'home plate' move east side. The Mars rovers have been through several small extension to the northeast ridge, and then look through the 'home plate .'eastern route which is easier through this plateau. If confirmed that the road can not end, they will choose the' home plate 'the west side of a road. "</ P> <P>" Spirit "in January .to the "home plate" east of the northern part of the process of moving, it stopped halfway, with the robotic arm tool of serious wind erosion the rocks, "Stephen Burton (Stapledon)". .Arizona State University main campus is responsible for the "Spirit" scientist Steve Davis looks at the "courage" in the winter habitat of the captured images and infrared spectra, this rock caught his attention. .</ P> <P> Musharraf said: "We found that 'home plate' east side of the material may be rich in silica. In the 'home plate' was found near the silicon dioxide is 'courage' in the beginning of Mars .Since the availability of habitability, access to the most important discoveries. silica is a hot spring or steam condensed at the outlet of the formation of chemical substances on earth these two environments suitable for life to survive. "In addition, the" Spirit "of the α .also found that particle X-ray spectrometer, "Stephen Burton," is rich in silica. .</ P> <P> Musharraf said: "Now that we have in the 'home plate' next to the silica found in the second place, further expansion of the hot springs or steam vents to influence by the size of the area. This system more .large, it will involve more water, so the system can be used to have the higher ranks of. "The researchers plan to" Spirit "to" von Braun "mounds and" Goddard ( .Goddard) "basin way, using its thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera to verify more silica-rich rock. .However, the research group of the first consideration is, "Spirit" rover how to successfully reach these destinations. .</ P> <P> 2 6 and 14 February, the wind dropped in the "Spirit" of some dust solar panel so that it can use more energy than the original increase of about 20%. .At the same time, there are indications that "Opportunity" in the right front wheel rotates, the friction getting worse. .Research group is trying to get the rover on Mars timer backwards a few days, it re-distribution of lubricant to each wheel, which appeared in the past under similar circumstances have produced good results. .</ P> <P> "Opportunity" is the main destination of about 14 miles in diameter, "Endeavour" pit, the pit is now located in the "Opportunity" about 7 miles southeast. .The rover has been operating in the south, not directly to the "patient" craters. .Now it is very soft soil area activities, is likely to sink into. .</ P> </ p>.