Autoblog

NASA invites students to design future Moonbuggy prototypes [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:02:00 EST

There are a lot of awards handed out at the Great Moonbuggy Race, from 'Most Improved' to 'Crash and Burn,' but the one every team wants is the first-place trophy. This year was the 20th year of the annual event, held at the US Space & Rocket Center under the auspices of NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Aerojet, and it was two teams from Puerto Rico that took first in both high school and college divisions.

The race tested proof-of-concept vehicles created by 89 teams of high school and college students from around the world. Teams of six competitors include one male and one female driver and they have to design a buggy that, disassembled , fits into a 4x4x4 space. When the clock starts, the teams have to build their buggies and run them over a half-mile course that mimics the moonscape; whichever team has the shortest combined time wins. The winning time from Teodoro Aguilar Moro Vocational High School (pictured) was 3:24, while the collegiate entry from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao won with a time of 3:32.

There's a press release below with more details and a list of all the winners, plus a video from NASA Television on last year's race.

Continue reading NASA invites students to design future Moonbuggy prototypes [w/video]

NASA invites students to design future Moonbuggy prototypes [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 May 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mars Rover draws giant phallus on Red Planet

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Humor

From early cave paintings tens of thousands of years ago to the bathroom stall at our favorite bar, humans have probably been scribbling male genitalia on flat surfaces ever since we, as a species, first learned how to draw. While science has allowed us to do many great things, perhaps our finest moment came recently when NASA inadvertently drew a penis - captured in the image above - on the surface of the Red Planet. Checkmate to all you graffiti artists out there.

While this might seem like a comical stunt dreamed up by the guys over at Top Gear or even the geeks from Big Bang Theory, this is actually the result of Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity leaving tire tracks on the surface of the Red Planet. Although the drawing is said to be accidental, we'd like to imagine that some of the smartest people on the planet operating the equipment still have an incredible sense of humor.

Mars Rover draws giant phallus on Red Planet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Translogic takes a closer look at the Mars Curiosity rover

Zach Bowman — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos

The Translogic team took some time to swing by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently to chat with Ann Devereaux, the deputy lead for entry, descent and landing for Curiosity, the Mars science lab. If anyone knows what it takes to to move a project like Curiosity from concept to touch down, it's her. Over the course of the quick segment on the rover program, host Bradley Hasemeyer learns about the extensive real-world testing that went into bringing the rover to life as well as the staggering amount of computer modeling it took to prepare for the rover's descent.

While the Curiosity program is only supposed to last two years, NASA is currently looking into ways to bring samples from the red planet back to Earth. That will be a substantially more ambitious project, but with the brightest minds in the field on the case, we wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility. Check out the latest Translogic episode below.

Continue reading Translogic takes a closer look at the Mars Curiosity rover

Translogic takes a closer look at the Mars Curiosity rover originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch Petrolicious beautifully profile the Targa California

Zach Bowman — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos

In terms of classic car rallies, the Targa California is a fairly young event. In it's fourth running, the event is a NASA-sanctioned, non-competitive rally that features classic machinery from 1975 and earlier on a jaunt through some of central California's most beautiful countryside. The three-day event is open to any make and model, right down to vintage pickups, so this is our kind of party. The crew from Petrolicious Productions captured this year's batch of drivers as they wound through the dirt roads and rolling coastline.

The five-minute clip is loaded to the brim with beautiful machinery, from BMW 2002 racers to classic Porsche 911 and 914 models, as well as more than a few Jaguar E-Type and Alfa Romeo participants. From the looks of things, if it's cool, it's in the Targa California. With excellent camerawork and plenty of drool-worthy tin, the video is well worth your time. Check it out below. You can also head over to the Targa California site for more information.

Continue reading Watch Petrolicious beautifully profile the Targa California

Watch Petrolicious beautifully profile the Targa California originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sen Grassley asks if Toyota got off easy with unintended acceleration debacle

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Technology, Toyota

Toyota is facing further fallout from its recent unintended acceleration debacle, with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reopen its investigation into the situation that led Toyota to recall some eight million vehicles. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, Grassley has written a letter to NHTSA director David Strickland, stating in part, "Key questions about the cause of unintended acceleration remain unanswered."

Grassley's contention is that because neither of the two independent investigations into the issue produced a definitive cause or explanation, further digging is necessary. Most of the unintended acceleration incidents in the NASA and National Academy of Sciences reports not attributed to trapped floormats or other problems with accelerator pedals were blamed on driver error, according to the report, but both studies concluded that other unknown issues could be at play.

According to Automotive News, Grassley is particularly concerned about the "tin whiskers" phenomenon, in which tiny threads of conductive crystal can grow on circuit boards.

Toyota has responded to the Grassley letter, issuing a statement that reads, in part, "There is no problem with the electronic throttle control systems in Toyota vehicles - and all the scientific evidence confirms it. So-called 'tin whiskers' are not a new phenomenon and do not represent a mysterious or undetectable problem in a vehicle's electronics."

Sen Grassley asks if Toyota got off easy with unintended acceleration debacle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: Neil Armstrong's '67 Corvette

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities

How much would you pay for a derelict '67 Chevrolet Corvette with a 427? If you said about thirty grand, you'd be in the ballpark - but that would still be all the money in the world for a barn find like this 'Vette. The owner admits the car hasn't run in over 30 years and she (the car, not the owner) clearly needs to get involved in a serious relationship with a body man.

But what if we told you that Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, the hero of the NASA Apollo program, and by all accounts a genuine good guy, was the first owner of the car? How much would that make it worth? Better hope your guess has six digits in it, because bidding on eBay Motors for this derelict but potentially highly collectible car has already shot past $120,000 - and has yet to meet the seller's reserve price.

Before readying the checkbook, however, we might suggest actually reading the seller's ALL CAPS description. It's a wonderful tale that starts with the car being provided by Rathman Chevrolet, the famed dealership that leased Corvettes to astronauts for $1 per year. A NASA employee allegedly bought the car after Armstrong turned it in and the seller claims he's hounded that NASA employee for 30 years trying to buy the Corvette, but it was only two months ago that he claimed his prize. There's a whole lot more to the story, including buying a carburetor in Texas and wanting to turn the car into a National Corvette Restorers Society "Survivor."

The bottom line, however, is that the seller is now trying to flip the Chevrolet, without much in the way of evidence that the car belonged to Armstrong, at least that's presented in the eBay Motors auction. Perhaps we're just being skeptical, but before spending over $100,000 on a car for which the majority of the purchase price is for its provenance, we'd like to see more in the way of authentication than one Protect-O-Plate photo. Since Neil Armstrong is still alive, we hope that whoever winds up restoring this Corvette does a more thorough job of vetting and presenting its history.

eBay Find of the Day: Neil Armstrong's '67 Corvette originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM shows off robotic glove for use in vehicle assembly [w/video]

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

Robots have been a part of every automaker's manufacturing arsenal for three decades now, but that doesn't make this latest effort at improving plant automation any less cool. While most factory robots are neither humanoid nor particularly interesting, the only thing more exciting than this pseudo-cyborg hand for rivetheads is ordering up the entire run of The Six Million Dollar Man from Netflix.

While General Motors clearly doesn't have the cash or inclination to turn each of its roughly 50,000 United Auto Workers employees into Colonel Steve Austin, the new Robo-Glove would allow its wearer to have super hand strength. GM says the force required to grasp tools could be reduced by a third to a half for those wearing the special gloves, which are operated by a standard lithium-ion battery like the ones used to power cordless hand tools. The gloves would allow workers to hold their tools comfortably for longer periods of time and possibly reduce the risk of repetitive stress injury.

The gloves were an outgrowth of GM's partnership with NASA in developing the Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot to be launched into space when it went up to the International Space Station last year. GM developed the first prototype gloves in March 2011, while the second generation was completed three months later. They weigh about a pound each and contain all the electronics, actuators and a small display.

Click past the jump to read the full press release, plus watch a video demonstration.

Continue reading GM shows off robotic glove for use in vehicle assembly [w/video]

GM shows off robotic glove for use in vehicle assembly [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Goodyear is getting closer to the next generation "tire" that could be used on wheeled rovers for space exploration. We highlight the word tire because those on the original lunar rover were made of piano wire with treads made of titanium cleats - no rubber, no air. A few years ago NASA began work on a new tire, the project another co-development with Goodyear, which made the originals.

The modern version is called the Spring Tire, so-called for the 800 load-bearing springs that make up its bulk, mounted to a six-spoke metal hub. The springs can conform to the varying terrain of other planets and satellites without transferring undue shock to the vehicle, and a malfunction is likely to damage only a few of them, leaving the tire operable.

See below for more info from Goodyear on the tire, and check it out in the gallery of high-res photos. When it's time for another group of astronauts to go "ridin' dirty," this is likely how they'll do it.

Continue reading Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration

Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan and NASA announce 350Z-based spec series

Chris Shunk — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Nissan

Nissan is partnering with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) to create an all new Spec Z Series that promises low costs and performance parity. The single classification series will feature 350Z models from 2003 to 2008, and prizes that part-time track warriors can really get behind.

At the regional level, podium finishers can earn up to $850 in prize money. Further, Nissan will pony up $6,500 in cash support for top Spec Z finishers at the 2012 NASA Championships. Further support will come from BFGoodrich, which will be the control tire for the series and will back a contingency price program for Spec Z.

Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release, which includes a link that will provide still more information on the Spec Z series.

Continue reading Nissan and NASA announce 350Z-based spec series

Nissan and NASA announce 350Z-based spec series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watchdog group blasts report that exonerates Toyota

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Toyota

Remember the reports released by NASA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which concluded that Toyota's electronic systems were not to blame for cases of unintended acceleration? Watchdog group Safety Research & Strategies has a 51-page bone to pick with those papers.

According to The Safety Record, the advocacy group's publication, Safety Research & Strategies took a deep dive into unintended acceleration research reports. The group also obtained previously unreleased portions of the report, and the results seem to contradict the very defense that Toyota is using in its UA-related lawsuits.

The unreleased documents show that NASA was able to find electronics failures, which could cause unintended acceleration. Per The Safety Record, these research efforts were heavily influenced by Toyota and limited in scope. In fact, more of the research has yet to be revealed.

These are bold claims by Safety Research & Strategies, and you can read its findings by heading to SR&S website. This new report could spell serious trouble for the automaker, if the allegations are found to be accurate.

Watchdog group blasts report that exonerates Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Own your own copy of the Road & Track Special: The Space Edition

Zach Bowman — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The crew from Road & Track recently teamed up with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel to create a special-edition issue of the magazine to commemorate STS-134. Along with the infamous April Fools features on both the space shuttle Endeavour and the NASA Crawler, Feustel picked out a handful of his favorite R&T stories from the magazine's illustrious past.

Those include an epic muscle car shoot out from 1967 that covered the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and the Plymouth Barracuda as well as a stack of choice Peter Egan columns. Feustel also threw in a piece on the Lamborghini Miura S from 1988 as well as another article on the Austin-Healey Sprite 1100 from 1963. All told, the collection sounds like the best of Road & Track history.

A copy of the issue is currently circling above Earth on Endeavour right now, but you can order up a terrestrial copy for your own enjoyment from the Road & Track site. Tell them we sent you.

Own your own copy of the Road & Track Special: The Space Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bloomberg: Unintended acceleration Toyota plaintiffs challenging NASA findings

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Plaintiffs in the unintended acceleration class action case against Toyota are striking back against the findings laid out by NASA. It was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that produced research showing electronics were not to blame for any sudden acceleration-related issues.

According to Bloomberg, the plaintiffs in the case maintain that NASA didn't dig deep enough. Toyota's computer systems utilize eight million lines of code, yet NASA only looked through 280,000. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have filed paperwork stating they plan to bring in experts who'll contradict NASA's findings.

Toyota maintains that any issues of unintended acceleration were related to stuck accelerator pedals, faulty floor mats and driver error - two out of three of which have been addressed with recalls.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Bloomberg: Unintended acceleration Toyota plaintiffs challenging NASA findings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood

John McElroy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Autoline on Autoblog

It took ten months. It involved the best brains in the nation. They conducted exhaustive tests. And Lord knows what it all cost. But when it was over, the results were totally predictable. The U.S. Department of Transportation could find nothing wrong with Toyota vehicles that would cause them to suddenly accelerate out of control.

The results were predictable because the country went through the same thing nearly a quarter of a century ago. Only then, it involved Audi. And in both of these cases, each car company was accused of having some sort of mysterious gremlin that would cause its cars to suddenly accelerate out of control.

But there is a significant difference between both investigations. Back then the Department of Transportation blamed it on driver error. Officially, they called it "pedal misapplication." But this time around, the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, wouldn't do that. He said it was caused by mechanical problems, i.e., sticky pedals and piled up floormats.

Too bad the Secretary didn't have the courage to call it like it is. By failing to identify the root cause of the problem, more people are going to lose their lives.

Continue reading...

[Image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty]

Continue reading Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood

Opinion: Five Questions For Ray LaHood originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota pushing to dismiss sudden acceleration class action over NASA findings

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Toyota is facing down a lawsuit that cites unintended acceleration as the cause of several accidents and a greater-than-normal reduction in resale values. Due to recent findings by NASA, Toyota now has more ammunition for its legal efforts to get these allegations dismissed.

The automaker already attempted to have this case dismissed back in November of 2010. At the time, Judge James Selna declined to dismiss the suit based on the evidence presented by Toyota. This time, however, Toyota is armed with research conducted jointly by the space experts at NASA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which indicates that there are no electronic culprits to blame for the unintended acceleration phenomenon.

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Report: Toyota pushing to dismiss sudden acceleration class action over NASA findings originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota image gets big boost after NASA findings revealed

Zach Bowman — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Toyota

It doesn't take much to change the opinion of the masses, apparently. Automotive News is reporting that it only took a mere two days for Toyota to see a rebound in its reputation after NASA engineers cleared the company of any electronic flaws in its vehicle software. As you may recall, the Department of Transportation called in some of the brightest minds from the country's space program to have a look at the issues surrounding the rash of unintended acceleration claims involving Toyota vehicles. Those engineers couldn't find anything that would point to an electronic issue as the culprit.

What did they find? As it turns out, the NASA investigation pointed to the same culprits as both Toyota and the Department of Transportation. Instances of unintended acceleration were caused by sticky pedals, floor mat interference, or good old-fashioned pedal misapplication.

Automotive News reports that according to YouGov/Brandindex, a company that tracks customer perception of popular brands, Toyota saw a sizeable boost in its reputation in the days following the announcement.

Toyota, meanwhile, says that the company doesn't view the findings as a victory. Instead, the news is simply validation of what the automaker believed to be true all along.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Toyota image gets big boost after NASA findings revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA to send R2 droid robot co-developed with GM to space station

Zach Bowman — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, GM

General Motors R2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've got an unnatural fear of human-like robots, it's time to look away. It turns out that Chrysler isn't the only manufacturer getting cozy with NASA these days. General Motors just announced its new robot co-developed with NASA will soon be shedding its earth-bound shackles to help on the international space station, in addition to its duties to here on our home planet. Called Robonaut 2, the 300-pound man-like machine is designed to be as physically similar to a human being as possible in order to allow the robot to share tools with astronauts.

The first R2 will be scooting up to low orbit aboard STS-133 this September, where it will undergo testing in zero-gravity. At this point, GM says the robot lacks the necessary protection to operate outside of the space station, but that over time, new models may eventually take dangerous space walks instead of humans. The company also hopes that the robot will be able to aid in exploration of our solar system.

Neither GM nor NASA is saying exactly how much an R2 costs, which is a shame. We could use an extra set of hands around the garage.

Given the recent cancellation of NASA's Constellation program, we're likely to see more partnerships between independent companies and the space exploration agency crop up in the near future. The Obama Aadministration is hoping that independent industry will step in to fill the void left by government funding, and in order for that to be successful, NASA is going to have to share its knowledge.

Gallery: General Motors Robonaut 2

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading NASA to send R2 ~~droid~~ robot co-developed with GM to space station

NASA to send R2 ~~droid~~ robot co-developed with GM to space station originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chrysler and NASA partner on advanced technologies

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Now here's a partnership we didn't see coming: Chrysler and NASA have jumped into bed to share research on things like radar, materials and robotics. While we can't imagine Chrysler has too much to add to that discussion, the partnership could have a wide-ranging impact on the company's future products. Neither NASA nor Chrysler is exactly willing to say how the government agency will benefit from joining up with the smallest of the Big Three, but the mind reels...

It's also worth noting that NASA will be sharing some of its battery tech with the Penastar people, including "other energy storage mediums." That's good news for a company that just put its ENVI electric-vehicle program out to pasture. While hybrids still make up a small portion of the total vehicle sales here in the US of A, any manufacturer without a decent hybrid showing would seem to be at a serious disadvantage going forward.

If nothing else, we may see more Velcro, memory foam and freeze-dried ice cream in our Chrysler products of the future, although there's no word on sending a Sebring into space.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler and NASA partner on advanced technologies

Chrysler and NASA partner on advanced technologies originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: NASA will study sudden unintended acceleration problem

Chris Shunk — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Who do you call when automobiles are rocketing (intentional pun) out of control? As it turns out, the answer is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, aka NASA.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has enlisted the help of NASA to solve the unintended acceleration conundrum that's led to the recall of nearly 10 million Toyota vehicles. A statement by the DoT says it is calling on NASA's expertise in "electronics, hardware, software, hazard analysis and complex problem solving" to help solve a problem for which many credentialed experts have no acceptable answer. In short, NASA will be looking for any defects that could lead to an investigation, and its study should be completed by late summer.

The National Academy of Sciences will also conduct a second, more broad investigation that will tackle unwanted acceleration and electronic vehicle controls. The study will last up to 15 months, and the total bill for the two studies will cost American tax payers a relatively reasonable (if there are results) $3 million dollars.

The announcement of the two independent federal investigations comes one month after Congress demanded answers from Toyota and the DoT that would put Americans at ease. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood apparently senses the urgency to get this daunting problem resolved, adding "for the safety of the American driving public, we must do everything possible to understand what is happening." So to infinity and beyond we go.

[Source: The Los Angeles Times, Business Week | Image: Bill Ingalls/AFP/Getty]

Report: NASA will study sudden unintended acceleration problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Free Spirit: NASA's stuck rover marks 2,000 days on Mars

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Quick -- what's got six wheels, lives on Mars and has been stuck in a sand trap named Troy since May 1 of this year? If you answered, "NASA's Spirit Rover," pat yourself on the back. Spirit, along with its twin rover Opportunity, was only supposed to provide three months of Martian exploration. Incredibly, both Spirit and Opportunity are still kicking, having lasted over 20 times longer than initial NASA projections. In fact, Spirit just passed a major milestone as a result of it having landed on the Red Planet before its twin: 2,000 days on the job. Longer than that, actually, as Martian days (called "sols") take longer than our earth days. To wit, Spirit had been on Mars for 2,000 earth days a few weeks ago, but yesterday marked 2,000 sols.

Sadly, reports indicate that Spirit has been stuck in sand for the last several months. One of its wheels has died and there appears to be a rock jutting up into the robot rover's belly pan. Worse, Spirit's downhill facing wheels have spun so much that they've buried themselves in the loose sand. Luckily, Martian winds have been potent enough to blow most of the dust off Spirit's solar arrays and the robot has plenty of power.

Back here on Earth, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists have been working with a replica of Spirit in a sand box, trying to duplicate its sticky predicament and devise a solution. They did this four years ago when Opportunity became mired in a sand dune named Purgatory, then - as now - using techniques you might use to free your car from a snow drift. If all goes well, the scientists will be able to send freeing instructions to Spirit during the second week of September.

You can follow all of Spirits ups and downs as well as the earthbound rescue planning on NASA's cleverly named Free Spirit website.

[Source: MSNBC Cosmic Log]

Free Spirit: NASA's stuck rover marks 2,000 days on Mars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Andrew J. Feustel: Astronaut, Hubble mechanic, car guy

Chris Tutor — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Etc., BMW

Sometime today, astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis are scheduled to begin fitting the Hubble telescope with three new gyroscopes. But why does Autoblog care? Well, apart from the fact that the whole mission is super cool, one of the galactic grease monkeys wielding a wrench today will be Andrew J. Feustel. He's one of us car guys who really wanted to be an astronaut and found a way to make it happen.

His official NASA bio reads like your typical lab-coat-wearing science geek. He graduated from Purdue with an M.S. in geophysics and from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario with a Ph.D. in geological sciences. Under "Organizations" he lists membership in the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the American Geophysical Union and, to top it off, the BMW Car Club of America.

ABC's World News Tonight interviewed Feustel in his garage as he worked on his M3. In the background is the 1966 Austin Healy he gave his wife. To help pay for his college education, Feustel restored old cars. His son races karts. In short, Feustel is one of us. He's a car guy. And today, he'll be looking for 4mm sockets several miles above the planet.

Good like Andrew. If you get time, we'd love to get our first comment from outer space.

[Source: ABC World News Tonight]

Continue reading Andrew J. Feustel: Astronaut, Hubble mechanic, car guy

Andrew J. Feustel: Astronaut, Hubble mechanic, car guy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments