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Stuck Rover on Mars Climbs Slightly in Escape Attempt
By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 21 January 2010
01:28 pm ET
NASA's embattled Mars rover Spirit has managed its first successful, but ever-so-small, climb as it drives in reverse to escape a Martian sand trap that has plagued it for more than eight months.
Spirit lifted itself by nearly half an inch (just over 1 cm) during its latest two drive attempts this month, NASA announced Thursday. While that seems tiny, it's the first upward motion for the rover since escape attempts began in November, the agency added.
The rover also moved about 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) backwards in the maneuvers, which took place on Jan. 14 and Jan. 16. Spirit's left-middle wheel stalled on Tuesday during yet another drive attempt.
"The explanation here is that the rover's rear wheels are climbing, raising the back of the rover," NASA officials said in a statement. "Images from the rear hazard avoidance camera confirm this."
The news comes as NASA engineers run through the short list of remaining options to try and rescue Spirit from the wheel-deep sand it sank into on May 6, 2009. The escape efforts have been on since November, but until now Spirit has only been spinning its wheels forward – towards the north - in attempts to drive itself free.
READ MORE: Space.com
