Science

Here’s What Five Years on Mars Looks Like

So we’ve recently seen two fascinating time-lapsed videos of Earth — one from space and one of the Californian sky for a year — but what of other planets?

Here’s what Mars looks like from the perspective of the Mars rover “Spirit.” The video itself is composed of 3,418 frames taken by Spirit’s front-right hazcam played back at 24 frames per second. The video starts at the beginning of her mission when she woke in January 2004 and ends in April 2009:

It may look like just a bunch of rocky, dry, endless terrain and, yes, it can seem anticlimactic when you find out that Spirit only went 4.8 miles in its 5 year, 3 month and 27 day voyage — for some reason it seems farther in the 2:40 clip — but Spirit’s work on Mars resulted in several valuable findings.

The Mars Rover Spirit Covered 4.8 Miles of Martian Territory in Five Years | See Its Time Lapsed Journey

Spirit's journey on Mars covered this 4.8 mile stretch.

The most significant finding, according to the Daily Mail, was evidence of water, among others.

According to Daily Mail, Spirit suffered many injuries, including one to its front wheel that caused it to drive backwards and eventually become stuck. Once stuck, Spirit conducted stationary research until NASA lost communication with it in 2010. NASA tried to revive Spirit after the Martian winter this spring but couldn’t and declared Spirit dead.

But all has not ended for the rovers on Mars. “Opportunity” continues to be mobile and collect data and Curiosity —  a new rover that is twice as long and two times the size of Spirit and Opportunity — will launch on Nov. 26 for the red planet.

The Mars Rover Spirit Covered 4.8 Miles of Martian Territory in Five Years | See Its Time Lapsed Journey

Curiosity is a $2.5 billion rover destined for Mars. (Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Learn more about Curiosity, which is being called “the SUV of Mars rovers:”

Comments (70)

1 2
  • Elena2010
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:53pm

    Double check your calculations — meters are not yards!

    Report Post » Elena2010  
  • SgtB
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:25am

    Why are they going to use a rocket for the final approach in the curiosity rover’s entry? What is wrong with the use of a secondary parachute that is larger than the one used to slow the craft from mach 2? Wouldn’t a piece of cloth be more fool proof and cheaper than a set of 4 autonomous rocket boosters getting signals from ground sensing radar and potentiometers? WHY WHY WHY? NASA apparently has not learned to K.I.S.S. and I fear they will wind up wasting billions of our money on curiosity because of it.

    Report Post » SgtB  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 3:11pm

      Parachutes require……..an atmosphere?

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • budzy1911
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 4:25pm

      Pouncing Porcupine – Mars has an atmosphere – otherwise you would not need a heat shield. The pressure is around 0.087 psi compared to 14.7 psi on Earth. Very thin but there.

      The reason they do not use parachutes all the way to the surface is that with little pressure and the chance there is no wind the parachute may come down on top of the rover trapping it like a net. The Viking landers in the 70′s used the same system except that the rockets were integrated into the craft because it remained in a fixed location. http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/viking.htm

      Report Post » budzy1911  
  • 762x51
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:17am

    Looks more like Nevada than Mars, or maybe Dune with rocks.

    Report Post »  
  • banderashovel
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:46am

    what is keeping the rover going for two years, and why can’t that technology be used here on earth…i know my truck won’t run for two years..——so it can be done—

    Report Post » banderashovel  
    • SgtB
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:12am

      It’s called solar power. Keep in mind that this lightweight r/c car can only travel at a crawl and travelled <5 miles in 5 years. Unless you want your car to travel at an average speed of 1 miles per year then you don't want this technology to power it.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • 762x51
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:14am

      Two problems, you can’t travel more than 1 mile per year in it and it costs $20,000,000.00.

      Otherwise, yes, you CAN have a truck that runs for five years.

      Report Post »  
    • budzy1911
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 4:33pm

      They are not using solar power – they are using a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). It converts the heat of decaying plutonium to electricity. Look at the back of the rover – the fins are the location of the power source.

      Very effective power souce and MUCH better than solar – used for deeps space missions where solar panels would need to be huge.

      http://nuclear.gov/pdfFiles/MMRTG.pdf

      Report Post » budzy1911  
    • T-ROY
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 4:36pm

      762×51 omg lol lmao

      Report Post »  
  • Carol in Indy
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:34am

    Am I the only one that is beaming with pride of our American Ingenuity?

    Report Post » Carol in Indy  
  • Rogue
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:04am

    When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300 C. The Russians used a pencil.

    Report Post » Rogue  
    • ghostrider99
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:58am

      Your information is false, NASA did not spend billions on a pen to write in space. Link below:

      http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:20am

      @ Ghost rider,

      The anecdote, while not completley accurate, is viable. It is true that NASA did not spend the millions in researching the product, however, a private company did and then they started selling them to NASA and the public. I bought one a few years ago and it cost me ~$8. Compare that with the cost of of a comparable “earth” pen or a pencil and the cost is 16X that of a normal writing utensil. Now, when you figure in the fact that I was not an early adopter of these pens and did not buy them before they went into mass production on a nationwide commercial scale… I would have to say that NASA probably originally spent between $20 – $100 per fisher space pen. Now, only the Lord and one NASA accountant could probably ever figure out how many of these pens were bought and for what price. That being said, NASA, like all early adopters of technology, did pay for the research and development, tooling, and manpower used to invent and produce said technology.

      So you can tell snopes that they were bested by a person using nothing more than a knowledge of market behavior and logic. Also, you were fooled by their true false statement.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • fldammy
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:16am

    Pity we paid billions on that worthless ISS when we could have been doing so much exploration of our solar system. NASA needs to be out of the human LEO transportation business and just do the really hard to do and risky deep space exploration like exploring Mars.

    Report Post » fldammy  
    • JAYBECONSERVATIVE
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:25pm

      As much as I hate the spending, would you want operatives from every country but ours floating a few miles above our heads? Being involved is as much a security issue as it is a scientific issue. Even though the spending is painful.

      Report Post »  
  • AzSage
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:54am

    Might seem like a total waste of money to the short sighted, but the long term gain from the technology developed by NASA and it’s sub contractors has already and will continue to payoff. I say keep the space program alive. Make smart investments in R&D, spend thrifty, watch them like a hawk, but keep it going.

    Report Post » AzSage  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:06am

    How much is this waste of money costing us. Imagine the billions we wasted with NASA since the 50′s just to get a few rocks, and what we could of done with the money.

    Report Post »  
    • BereanBrain
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:25am

      You are using a COMPUTER that’s technology was developed for the space industry. “wasting” money on the space program yields lots of benefits in electronics, “green” technology, healthcare, etc. I guess you did not know the EKG was developed for the space program either.

      The space program has yielded MORE return on the dollar than ANY program the USA has ever done.

      That’s one reason our economy/technlogy grew. The lack of a meaninful space program is one reason our economy is in the toilet. Space technology is a great place to develop new power technlogies that could translate to better electric cars (don’t you know the rover has to be VERY efficient?)

      Report Post »  
    • Ironeagle
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:27am

      Concur, a colossal waist of taxpayer money. They could have done the same thing in western Wyoming for a small fraction of the cost…it looks the same.

      Report Post » Ironeagle  
    • The Woot
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:12am

      Yeah, Obama could have wasted more money on more Solyndra’s.

      Report Post » The Woot  
    • davidmccoyrn
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:57am

      BEREANBRAIN,
      The EKG was first mass produced in the United States in 1914. The technology behind it predates even back further to the 1600′s.

      Now as far as your argument goes with a “Government program” to yield dollars is just obtuse. The “Government” is not being and has no rights nor capital that it does not have to take from individuals first to “produce income”.

      Report Post »  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:05am

      There sure are a lot of Liberals posting here. Most of the technology we have today was developed in the space program

      Report Post »  
    • caveman74
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:30am

      with out nasa we would not have the icbm something most people dont like but something that keeps the communist hordes at bay. We have been sending people into sub orbit for decades. That experience has allowed us to develope faster higher altitude bombers and fighters. Even if you ignore all the civilian tech the military tech keeps us ahead of the game

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:03am

    .
    I thought it was 3 years of Obama, My Bad…………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 7:50am

    It‘s clear the Mars Rover wasn’t built by GM.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 7:08am

    Looks like Afghanistan.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 7:45am

      Some of the rock formations on Mars look a little odd, don’t you think?

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 7:54am

      Hey I’ve got an idea: lets make it a state park where spirit was collecting data? Lets start putting land off-limits.

      Report Post »  
  • grudgywoof
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 6:00am

    Wow that’s boring. I mean it’s really cool that we can do that and control it from earth but Mars looks really boring. I hope they find something that will make spending all that money worth while. Now if there was life there that would be something but I doubt it. Nothing to see here move along.

    Report Post » grudgywoof  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:22am

      What did you expect? Miami Beach?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • MeMadMax
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 5:45am

    I am so glad the eco weenies are not complaining over the power supply for Curiosity: It’s a RTG.

    Report Post » MeMadMax  
  • jackbauer2012
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:57am

    It is obviously the tred of the Rovers wheel. But wow that looks like a footprint under the arm of the Rover. This is going to bring out a lot of the Conspiracy people that NASA is covering up that Martians are alive and well on Mars. For location it is about 11:00 under the arm from the point of the Play icon in the middle of the video. It’s clear from the still shot before you play the video.

    Report Post »  
  • JL320
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:40am

    “The Spirit rover drove 4.8 miles over the course of 5 years, 3 months, and 27 days.” And we wonder why NASA got shut down?

    Report Post »  
    • Got2bRoni
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:02am

      Lol. So true..

      Report Post » Got2bRoni  
    • dasyrup
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:36am

      Your right. However every single Russian mission to Mars has failed with a massive F that’s 18 consecutive missions lost, now our boys ride for 50 million a pop on Russian junk to space. You have your president to thank for that.

      Report Post »  
    • brickmoon
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:45am

      Tsk. The technology is ideally suited to model the speed of waiting lines for gov’t health care.

      Report Post » brickmoon  
    • dasyrup
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:59am

      And to add to that medicine, the military, communications, miniaturization, computerization — all have benefited because of NASA’s work. Now we are regressing and that money is being spent on entitlements. NASA’s shutdown of manned spacecraft and losing up to 20000 brilliant minds is one of the worst things this administration has done in my mind. There are many others but this to me personally is a big one.

      Report Post »  
    • Chrono_Sleuth
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 3:39am

      You can add to that technological changes in furniture, beds, sheets, waste disposal, understanding of how metal reacts in near sub-zero tempuratures. Rubber technology, shielding technology, lasers, guidance systems…ya, totally wasted money =p.

      Seriously, to call NASA a waste is to ignorance of the lowest order. Of all our government agencies not even the military has been as efficient in fund usage, groundbreaking, or as inspiring to the American populace as a whole let alone the wonderment of the world at our achievements.

      It’s not perfect, and sure there’s waste, but NASA is pretty bloody efficient, and one of the least funded agencies for years.

      Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 3:44am

      Maybe Chevy built it ?

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • nelbert
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 5:52am

      If it’s so easy, why don’t you try to do it?

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 6:06am

      The bad part is you paid for this worthless dribble..

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Justice_Gustine
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:18am

    This looks like the Colorado land my parents bought in the 70s for $12 down/$12 a month.

    yes, it’s handed down to me.

    Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:42am

      Justice….
      I guess its the plains east of the Rockies?

      Report Post »  
    • Justice_Gustine
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 3:08am

      Naw, they put in an extra fifty cents a month and invested in the San Luis Valley

      Report Post »  
  • Pouncing Porcupine
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:06am

    We’ve kind of known for a long time that Mars was once covered in water. The very color of the planet indicates that it dried up and rusted. Whatever caused the water to dry up is probably the same thing that caused The Great Flood. My theory is that there was once a planet between Mars and Jupiter that was somehow destoyed. This cataclysm disrupted the whole solar system, created the asteroid belt, blew chunks everywhere that formed the rings around the planets, and caused Mars to lose its water, which is now orbiting the sun in the form of comets. The greatest effect was that an asteroid hit Earth, and shattered the water barrier above our atmosphere (Gen. 1:7), which protected life from the sun’s harmful radiation. That water fell as rain for forty days. Some of it was dispersed into space and hit the moon as ice chunks. That caused the moon’s craters, then quickly melted and evaporated. Ever notice how we never see new craters on the moon? The asteroid also knocked the Earth into a wobble on its axis (remember your toy top?), cracked up the previously intact crust, and caused the earth to flood with water and lava. This event is what caused the Great Flood/ice age. This all happened 4000-5000 years ago. There is much physical and historical evidence. Here’s the coolest part: Before the flood, everything in the world was giant compared to now (even people). Fossil evidence proves this. The world was ruled by evil giant freak-men, and Roman/Greek mythology is based on f

    Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:09am

      …based on historical fact.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • grayling646
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:02am

      Well, that settles it.

      Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:21am

      I’m not the only one who believes it…check this out.

      What’s ironic is that people are constantly branding us YECs as narrow-minded, stupid and brainwashed.

      Yet, the YEC paradigm of creation and catastrophism is the only one that actually makes sense.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:33am

      Good theory. The far side of the moon has more craters than the side that always faces the earth. Maybe what is called the “far side” now was the “near side” and was hit with debris which altered its orbit to where it is today?

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:51am

      Some cataclysmic event happend with the Earth and it’s Moon, and Mars causing the Asteroid belt.Look at the largest Canyon in our Solar System which is on Mars. The “Valles Marineris.” It dwarfs the Grand Canyon many times over. Indian legend has it that the Earth took water from Mars as it passed by. Mars struck something or something struck mars causing this huge scrape on its side.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • ColoradoProudAmerican
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:09am

      I want whatever you’re smoking.

      Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:17am

      @Colorado

      Which is why you are unable to clearly see the big picture. Your mind is crippled.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
  • Cherynn
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:03am

    Wow, no McDonalds. No wonder we dont go to Mars!

    Report Post » Cherynn  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:58am

    They should have taught it how to build a Green House… rather than Clean a Dirty Floor!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • blaaaaackwoman
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:57am

    At 1:30 you can clearly see a bunch of cigarette butts in the sand.

    Report Post »  
    • grayling646
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:08am

      That’s because at 1:12 you can clearly see a six pack of empty beer cans and a used raincoat.

      Report Post »  
  • mrmikejohnson
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:51am

    Mars looks like a pretty boring place to visit.

    Report Post »  
    • texanpatriot
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 1:04am

      Well I have to say it was a great space program until the current president found out there were no voters on Mars or the Space Station.

      Sad about his poor priorities, lack of experience and corrupt life practices.

      TEA

      Report Post » texanpatriot  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:47am

    Reminds me of when i was a kid in my sand box ; ))

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:45am

    Can we please beg the Russians to send the #Occupy bands to Mars on a one way ship — and to take the progressives with it, and make a small detour into the sun?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 7:55am

      If he would, the world would be a better place for it. Maybe we could talk him into going with them since he agrees with the Occupiers.

      Report Post »  
  • Got2bRoni
    Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:43am

    Imagine what the U.S. will look like in 5 years if Obama is elected again. Oh we have Greece.. nevermind….

    Report Post » Got2bRoni  
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