Mars Rovers

The 'boxwork' ridges are crisscrossing low ridges on Mars, some just a few inches tall, arranged in distinctive patterns resembling a crumbling curb. These ridges are found in a specific region on Mount Sharp within Gale Crater and are believed to have been hardened by mineral cements, possibly related to ancient groundwater activity. This boxwork pattern is unique to this area and has not been observed elsewhere on the mountain.

The three intersecting ridges provide insight into the internal structure and chemistry of the ridges, which helps scientists understand why these features stand out relative to the surrounding terrain. Studying these ridges allows researchers to investigate the mineral composition and formation processes, shedding light on past groundwater activity and the environmental conditions on Mars during different geological eras.

Bert and Spot are four-legged robots equipped with artificial intelligence and sensors that allow them to autonomously navigate rough and complex terrains, including caves, which traditional wheeled rovers cannot easily access. They can recover from falls and build virtual maps of underground tunnels, enhancing exploration capabilities on Mars-like surfaces.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station remotely operate and supervise the robot dogs, such as Bert and Spot, using advanced interfaces that combine joystick and haptic feedback. This human-robot collaboration allows astronauts to delegate routine tasks to the robots while focusing on higher-level decisions, and to retrain robot algorithms in real time when unexpected challenges arise, improving mission flexibility and success.

NASA’s rovers get stuck on Martian sand because Earth-based tests did not accurately simulate the effect of Mars’ lower gravity on the soil. On Earth, stronger gravity compacts sand more, making it firmer and less likely to shift under rover wheels. Mars’ weaker gravity results in fluffier, less compact soil that behaves differently, causing rovers to sink and get stuck despite successful Earth simulations.

Mars’ gravity is about 38% that of Earth’s, which reduces the force compressing soil particles. This lower gravity makes Martian soil less rigid and more prone to shifting under pressure, unlike Earth’s soil which is more compact due to stronger gravity. This difference means that soil on Mars can trap rover wheels more easily than Earth-based tests predict.

NASA budget cuts could lead to significant delays or changes in the Mars Sample Return mission. However, Lockheed Martin has proposed a cost-effective alternative to save the mission, potentially reducing costs to under $3 billion by streamlining operations and using existing designs[1].

Despite budget cuts, the Mars Perseverance rover remains operational. The delay in the Mars Sample Return mission could allow the rover to explore new areas, potentially leading to additional discoveries on Mars[4].