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| Spotlight On Mars - Image |
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| Driving Test is a Wheel Success |
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| August 20, 2008 |
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Like a racecar in need of high-performance tires, the next rover to explore Mars needs a rugged set of wheels. Like the racing tires, the off-road wheels must perform flawlessly. Together with a rugged suspension system, they must be lightweight, strong, and agile enough to handle extreme terrain.
Recently, engineers took the Mars Science Laboratory rover for a test drive in the lab. They used manual transmission -- their hands -- to move the rover forward and backward, watching for any backlash in the suspension. A tiny amount of jiggle could be dangerous to such a large vehicle. The test was a success -- the rover leaned forward or backward less than one degree.
After the test, engineers removed the wheels so they could fill the chassis with science instruments, batteries, and electronic gear. It's all part of preparing the rover to wear out all six wheels in fruitful exploration of Mars!
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech |
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