back to article New NASA rover lands in frigid alien hell tomorrow

NASA's newest rover, the Goddard Remotely Operated Vehicle for Exploration and Research (GROVER), tomorrow (May 3rd) starts operations in a frigid alien hell with a climate utterly inimical to human life: the ice sheets of Greenland. GROVER follows familiar design specs: NASA describes it as “tank-like”, an apt choice of words …

COMMENTS

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  1. Steve Knox
    Coat

    GROVER, eh?

    So, they'll set him down somewhere NEAR...

    and then they'll send him somewhere FAR...

    and then he'll come back -- but before he gets too NEAR...

    they'll turn him back around and send him FAR away again?

    INB4 "What a Muppett!"

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Will

      Will probably end up stuck in a snow drift and need rescuing..... Several times.

      NASA used to explore the distant reaches of space, now due to budget cuts they will be exploring closer to home.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Will

        NASA used to explore the distant reaches of space, now due to budget cuts they will be exploring closer to home.

        More likely its NASA explore the distant reaches of space so are trying out new autonomous rover technology on earth before sending it on a long journey to a place where they can't send the mechanics.

  2. Thorne

    Obviously

    Muppets work cheaper than Indians...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Obviously

      My kind of Commentard... said Animal... salivating...

    2. Calidore

      Re: Obviously

      Not since Disney bought them.

  3. Magani
    Linux

    Is it just me or...

    ... does that look like a huge laptop on the body between the tracks?

    Penguins want to know more about cold icy places.

    1. Mako

      Re: Is it just me or...

      It's not just you. If GROVER is 6 feet tall, and if that is a laptop, then that laptop must be gargantuan.

      1. Mako

        Re: Is it just me or...

        Ah wait - it's 6 feet tall including its solar panels, which are not installed in that picture. And that is a laptop.

        http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/grover.html

        1. Ralph B

          Re: Is it just me or...

          Yup, it looks like about 4 foot of the height are the solar panels, mounted on a steep A frame. I predict it will get blown over in the first week of operation.

          1. hayseed

            Re: Is it just me or...

            800 lbs, low center-of-mass, wide tracks to counter wind forces perpendicular to the direction of the solar panels. It does look like that might have been taken into account, as mentioned by the lead scientist in the interview. I wonder about ravines, though.

  4. Martin Budden Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    What happens in autumn?

    Will it drive itself back to base?

    Or are they planning to go out and retrieve it?

    If they leave it out there, will it wake up again next spring?

    Or will it be completely buried by winter snow and become part of the ice sheet?

    So many questions!

  5. SW

    Optional accessories?

    Looks like there's plenty of room to add further equipment on to it.

    Hm, frickin lasers spring to mind - can never have enough frickin lasers on an autonomous vehicle.

    1. Paul Crawford Silver badge

      Re: Optional accessories?

      You seem to have "autonomous vehicle" and "shark" mixed up. Don't worry, its a common mistake.

      1. Shrimpling

        Re: Optional accessories?

        NASA's last autonomous vehicle came with a deadly laser, why can't this one?

      2. SW

        Re: Optional accessories?

        But is it not likely that the shark would/could be at the controls initially via the WIFI control link - I don't think it was mentioned exactly who's got hold of the joystick.

        (we need a shark icon methinks)

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Works only when solar power avaialble .... cue reports of "NASA rover finds Greenland constantly melting"!

  7. DuncanL

    And the second version will reveal it's secret identity as...

    SUPER GROVER!

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