NASA comes up empty on Perseverance rover's first Mars sample drilling attempt
- Reference: 1628486943
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/08/09/perserverance_sample_fail/
- Source link:
As [1]detailed in a Saturday post, Perseverance's robot arm stretched out to its intended target and engaged its hollow coring bit and a percussive drill.
The latter two instruments performed as intended, as did the sample tube.
[2]
But NASA stated that subsequent analyses "indicate that no rock was collected during the initial sampling activity".
[3]
[4]
"The initial thinking is that the empty tube is more likely a result of the rock target not reacting the way we expected during coring, and less likely a hardware issue with the Sampling and Caching System," said Jennifer Trosper, project manager for Perseverance at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
[5]
Click to enlarge
Mission boffins plan to use Perseverance's cameras to peer into the borehole in the hope they spot something that explains the failure to collect a sample.
NASA's post points out that past Mars missions have also had trouble scooping up samples, with the red planet's rocks, sand, and regolith proving too hard, frustratingly sticky, and even more brittle than expected.
"I have been on every Mars rover mission since the beginning, and this planet is always teaching us what we don't know about it," said Trosper. "One thing I've found is, it's not unusual to have complications during complex, first-time activities."
[6]NASA warns Mars: We're about to laser your rocks and start stealing them
[7]NASA's InSight lander expected to survive most of summer before choking to death on Martian dust
[8]Mars race: China dreams of nuclear rockets, manned bases, and space elevators
Perseverance carries 43 sample tubes and NASA plans call for them to be retrieved in a multi-year mission planned to launch in 2026. For now, NASA and JPL are focussed on filling eight tubes – a milestone that will mark the end of the first phase of the Perseverance science program. ®
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[1] https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-perseverance-team-assessing-first-mars-sampling-attempt
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YRD84p-g3mp08uefu7D88QAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YRD84p-g3mp08uefu7D88QAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YRD84p-g3mp08uefu7D88QAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/08/09/nasa_front_left_hazcam_borehole_closeup.jpg
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/22/perseverance_prepares_first_mars_sample/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/28/insight_dust/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/25/china_mars_plans/
[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The rock's fault...
And if a peasant cannot swim, it's the trunk's fault.
Yeah, I get it, this stuff is tough and complicated, and I'm sure they'll figure something out. They always do. Scary, that I have that expectation, but NASA, JPL and all others are just doing crazy stuff and usually exceeding expectations.
I just could not resist...
I just don't get it.
Millions of $'s spent on a planet so far and unhabitable for a few tubes of rock. Here on earth the planet warms and a virus continues to wreak havoc, especially amongst poorer countries. It just doesn't make sense, fix the earth, then fly to Mars.
Re: I just don't get it.
Whilst a much lorded ideal, do you honestly think the earth will ever be fixed?
If so, then when will it be fixed?
Spending on projects like these as wasteful as it might first appear, can often bring in a large number of secondary benefits to industry, economies and yes, even the environment (if millions was not spent on various launch vehicles then things like weather satellites, atmospheric monitoring satellites, observation satellites would not exist).
Sometimes it more than worthwhile to do these things because the benefits can be numerous and immeasurable. Not to mention, satisfying our curiosity.
Re: I just don't get it.
...I agree with St_Oddball and would add:. Don't forget the money all stays here on Earth, only a small bit of kit ends up elsewhere.
Re: I just don't get it.
You do realise that those "millions" spent on Mars wouldnt do a single bit of good in fighting any of the things on Earth you mention. Hell NASA's entire budget is not even a rounding error on the US Government's budget report. You want to complain about wasted money, try looking at the trillions spent on the world militaries. 1% of their budgets could do a hell of a lot, and would still dwarf NASA's budgets thousands of times over. But those for some reason are untouchable.
And without NASA and it's miniscule budgets you wouldnt have half of your modcons. We get that you "dont get it". So why dont you let the adults in the room discuss the great Science being done, the things we're all learning by NASA having troubles with this drilling, and you can go do your virtue signalling elsewhere. I hear facebook is good for that. The Register is aimed at a higher level of Commentard, one that can actually use logic...
Muppet.
Re: I just don't get it.
Harsh, but.... yes.
Re: I just don't get it.
That argument again.
You would do well to remember that, if Kennedy hadn't launched Mankind to the Moon, you wouldn't have a smartphone and probably might not even have a computer to complain on.
Of course, the drawback of everyone having access to these tools is that people like you can continue trying to spread that stupid argument.
Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
Re: I just don't get it.
To be fair, that presumes that without a publicly funded space programme we wouldn't have thought to do anything else. I'd suggest that the development of the microcomputer owes more to the war effort than the space programme - though equally the space programme was driven by war too.
Re: I just don't get it.
"I just don't get it."
And we admire your honesty.
There's an implicit rule for commenting. If you have a known unknown, best not make assertions like "It just doesn't make sense"
Why take risks? Leave the risks for your unknown unknowns.
Probably the core is still attached to the bottom of the hole, that's a common problem if you are not drilling all the way through with a core drill.
Going by the uniformly fine ejected dust, the rock is quite tough, if it was crumbly you would see larger pieces in it.