Bart Bear's Blog

One of the things that I really like in the visitors centre at the Tidbinbilla space complex is this full-sized model of a Mars rover. One of the most impressive space missions ever is still in progress, with two rovers like this (called Spirit and Opportunity) trundling across the surface of Mars testing the soil, analysing the rocks, measuring the weather and sending back lots of pictures. When they landed on Mars in January 2004, the rovers were only expected to last around 4 months but they have been in business for over 5 years now and still going strong. I think the most exciting things they have found are rocks and minerals that only form in water, so Mars must have been a lot wetter in the past. I think it would be great to be on Mars driving one of these little buggys. With a small bear at the controls they could zip around a lot faster, and let's face it, the life support system required for me is a lot simpler than you would need for people. Let's get more bears in space.

Labels: astronomy, Canberra, cars and trucks