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View Full Version : Mars Pathfinder's "Box" Was a Tetra

Digo
17-01-2005, 21:24
I searched but didn't find anyone that came up with this.

Dave's robot arrived on Mars' ground inside a closed "box", that rolled and landed with the correct side down, due to its well located center of gravity.

This box was a tetra! ;)

What a nice inspiration for Triple Play.
Jay H 237
17-01-2005, 21:55
That thought never occurred to me. The tetra is a strong shape, perfect for bouncing across the Martian surface. Any comments Dave?

By the way, I think you mean Spirit and Opportunity. ;) I'm not sure how Pathfinder (and Sojourner {spelling?}) arrived on Mars back in '97.
Joe Ross
17-01-2005, 22:15
By the way, I think you mean Spirit and Opportunity. ;) I'm not sure how Pathfinder (and Sojourner {spelling?}) arrived on Mars back in '97.

It was a tetra as well. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf/retraction.html
cvhsrobotics
17-01-2005, 22:16
I believe this is the "Rover and Lander" unit during EDL (Entry, Descent, Landing). It is a tetrs that has airbags around it and evenually deflates when it is done bouncing. Then opens up like a flower, no matter if it is on its base or flaps. This system was used on both Sojourner, Spirit, and Opportunity. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mer/
Aignam
17-01-2005, 23:16
Ha. Lavery's a genius.
dlavery
18-01-2005, 00:33
I was wondering how long it was going to take for someone to notice the similarities. :D Congratulations Digo, for being the first one!

(and yes, that shape was used by all three of the recent successful Mars landing systems - Spirit and Opportunity last year, and Mars Pathfinder in 1997)

-dave
Elgin Clock
18-01-2005, 01:16
The shape of the delivery system is nice and all, but when are we gonna see the spiffy drive train that Spirit and Opportunity use.

Not the wheels themselves per-say, but the way they move. I love that they can turn independent of each other and turn on a dime..

http://www.maasdigital.com/mervideo-medium.html

Should be demonstrated in that video. I think..
Well, even if it isn't, it's still a cool video.:rolleyes:

And look.. That same site even has some cool desktop images of the rover too..
http://athena.cornell.edu/popups/wallpaper/index.html :yikes: