Les robots Spirit et Opportunity continuent toujours leur périple sur Mars. Prévus pour une mission de 3 mois sur Mars, ils y sont depuis trois ans et demie ... Ils ne sont pas perdus de vue par la sonde américaine Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter ( MRO ), en orbite autour de la planète rouge depuis mars 2006, qui doit examiner en détail la topographie du cratère Victoria.
Mais en ce moment, Opportunity qui se trouve juste au bord du cratère est en train d'essuyer une formidable tempête de poussières sur la planète rouge.
La mission d'Opportunity, qui devait descendre ces jours-ci à l'intérieur du cratère Victoria a été reportée, et le robot mis en sommeil par mesure de précaution.
De toutes façons, le nuage de poussières en suspension dans l'atmosphère, de plusieurs milliers de kilomètres, a réduit de 96 % l'ensoleillement en ces lieux.
Dieu soit loué, la conséquence heureuse des vents qui balaient littéralement la région c'est que la poussière ne reste pas en place.
On peut espérer que la mission d'Opportunity ne sera pas compromise ...
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NEWS OF THE TWO NASA ELVES
The Spirit and Opportunity rovers still continue their discovery of Mars. Originally designed for a 3 months-length mission on Mars, they have been roaming the planet for three and a half years now. They remain in sight of the american Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter ( MRO ), that orbits around the red planet since March 2006 and that examines in detail the topography of the Victoria crater.
At the present time however, Opportunity, which is located at the edge of the crater is enduring a formidable storm of dust on the red planet.
Opportunity's mission, which was to get down inside the Victoria crater one of these days, has been delayed, and the rover was put to sleep as a precaution. In any case, the cloud of dust in suspension in the atmosphere which is several thousands of kilometers large, has reduced sunniness by 96 % in the corresponding area.
Opportunity's mission, which was to get down inside the Victoria crater one of these days, has been delayed, and the rover was put to sleep as a precaution. In any case, the cloud of dust in suspension in the atmosphere which is several thousands of kilometers large, has reduced sunniness by 96 % in the corresponding area.
Thank God, the happy consequence of the winds which literally sweep the area is that all dust will be removed.
One can hope that the mission of Opportunity will not be compromised ...
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