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One Small Spin [MultiFormat]
eBook by John G. Hemry
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eBook Category: Science Fiction/Humor
eBook Description: Sometimes succeeding is just a matter of how you define success. As when NASA runs into problems with automated probes sent to Mars. (This story was written before the actual loss of a number of robotic Mars missions.)
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Analog, 1997
Fictionwise Release Date: August 2005
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [191 KB], eReader (PDB) [27 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [13 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [13 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [74 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [84 KB], hiebook (KML) [89 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [45 KB], iSilo (PDB) [11 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [14 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [42 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [22 KB]
Words: 3716
Reading time: 10-14 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
Cape Canaveral--NASA today announced the successful launch of ROVER I, the first robotic interplanetary probe designed to fulfill NASA's mandate to explore the Cosmos using 'smaller, faster, and cheaper' technology. ROVER I will conduct an exploration of the surface of Mars, achieving the same goals as a manned mission at a fraction of the cost.
* * * *ROVER I Landing Site, Mars--ROVER I rattled away from the pad of its lander, six wheels spinning almost effortlessly in the weak gravity, leaving small rooster-tails of fine, red dust in its wake. A video camera mounted high on the front swiveled back and forth to transmit a view of its path to observers eagerly awaiting the news on Earth. Encountering a small patch of boulders lying like carelessly abandoned playing pieces from some mighty game of Martian marbles, ROVER I consulted its navigation programming, then turned ninety degrees and surged ahead once more toward a smooth patch of sand. Hitting the smooth patch, its wheels began spinning faster, hurling greater spumes of red powder into the thin atmosphere. Pivoting, ROVER I succeeded only in digging itself deeper into the sandy depression, all six wheels now buried up to the hubs in Martian quicksand. Halting at last, it sent a plaintive query back to Earth. Working across millions of kilometers, human technicians sent commands to rock back and forth, their efforts resulting in ROVER I burying itself up to its axles in the soft, red trap. * * * *NASA Conference, Houston-- "There must be some way to free ROVER I from that patch of dust." "I'm afraid not, Doctor Singleton. We've tried everything, even using the sampling probes to dig in for leverage, but ROVER I just got too deeply into the fine sand to pull itself out unaided." "Unaided? What sort of aid does it need?"
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