Opportunity Takes a Dip Into Victoria Crater

Muad'Dave writes "From the NASA News Release 'Today, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity entered Victoria Crater for the first time. It radioed home information via a relay by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, reporting its activities for the day. Opportunity drove far enough in — about four meters (13 feet) — to get all six wheels past the crater rim. Then it backed uphill for about three meters (10 feet). The driving commands for the day included a precaution for the rover to stop driving if its wheels were slipping more than 40 percent. Slippage exceeded that amount on the last step of the drive, so Opportunity stopped with its front pair of wheels still inside the crater.' This marks the beginning of perhaps the greatest 'Opportunity' for new discoveries on Mars."

Sounds scary

[BadAnalogyGuy]

I'm no baby, but this kind of sporty chance-taking is just scary. A little less gingerly and we'd be relying on the auspiciousness of luck.

Posh.

Just...

[Tastecicles]

...jam that sucker into 4WD, drop the clutch and power through that thing. You can make it! That flying saucer's a light-week away!

At least...

[lucabrasi999]

This time, we can take comfort in knowing that someone at NASA is paying attention to the difference between feet and meters.

First read

[HangingChad]

For a second I thought Victoria Crater sounded more like the name of a p0rn star.

That changes the nuance of the headline significantly.

Who comes up with the names for these features?

[InvisblePinkUnicorn]

So Opportunity is finally descending into Duck Bay, the gentlest slope on the edge of the crater. What other bays were being considered? Check out this map [nasa.gov]. Apparently, the alternatives were named "Bottomless Bay", "Bay of Toil", and "Valley Without Peril". Who comes up with these names, and how can I apply for that job?

Warning! Bad Joke Ahead!!

[ashitaka]

As Opportunity descends into the crater it may come across that one fantastic discovery that reveals without a shadow of a doubt the historic existence of life in the water under Mars' surface. An unbelievable fact that has been hidden for Millenia will be revealed shaking the foundations of human history and culture.

And we will now know that more than just Slashdot geeks look at Victoria's Secret.

Re:First read

[evil agent]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we found new life forms in Victoria's Crater.

Re:next Mars lander May 25, 2008

[kimvette]

The 2008 laneder has no wheels, but the next one in 2009 is the largest yet. Its the size of minivan and will use retro-rocket landers instead of air-bags, and will be mostly nuclear powered instead of solar.

Oh good grief, when will our destruction of planets ever end? Mars has been experiencing global warming at an alarming rate, ever since we landed vehicles there, and now we're sending FULL-SIZE SUVs there even though it's obvious we are the cause of global warming? Good lord, what the hell is NASA thinking? ;)

Re:Who comes up with the names for these features?

[Peter Lake]

Yummy names?

From NASA's Rover Update http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html [nasa.gov]:
"In recent months, rover handlers have been naming local features and targets around Home Plate for deceased members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Because Home Plate is bowl-shaped, scientists have decided to name features on top of Home Plate after things served in bowls. Stay tuned for upcoming yummy descriptions!"

Yum. I can hardly wait.

Re:Just...

[rubycodez]

great, we spend all that money for something that acts exactly like an old shopping cart

Re:Just...

[Daniel_Staal]

Yes, but it does it on Mars.