Page 31 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

Sojourner Rover

“Six wheels on soil!” cried scientists on Earth
when Sojourner rolled down its deployment
ramp and onto Mars. This was the first “robotic
roving vehicle” ever to explore Mars. The
name, “Sojourner,” honored the 19th-century
African-American woman, Sojourner Truth,
who fought against slavery and for women’s
rights. NASA’s six-wheeled robotic explorer
weighed about 24 pounds (11 kg) and was
equipped with lasers, temperature sensors,
cameras, telecommunications equipment, and
tools for analyzing rock and dirt. Moving
almost two feet (.6 m) a minute, the rover
studied minerals on the ground and dust in
the air. NASA scientists collecting Sojourner’s
data gave names like “Shark,” “Wedge,”
“Squid,” “Yogi,” and “Chimp” to rocks the
mission photographed.

SOJOURNER AT WORK Large solar Rock analyzer
The rover’s suspension system gives great panel for power
stability, with joints that adjust as the ground Antenna
changes. The suspension and six-wheel design
allow Sojourner to cross a boulder 8 inches
(20 cm) high—three times larger than a four-
wheeler could cross. Sojourner can tip as much
as 45 degrees to one side as it climbs a rock
without falling over.

ROVER’S-EYE VIEW OF ITS LANDER RED PLANET ALL AROUND
Sojourner photographs the Pathfinder Lander on sol 33. This 360-degree panorama of Ares Vallis was composed from
The IMP camera on the lander’s mast is looking back at several pictures taken by Pathfinder’s IMP camera over three
the rover. Deflated air bags stand out from this low angle, sols—8, 9, and 10. Stained by rust-colored dust, the air bags
as does the rock “Ender,” bottom, with “Hassock” behind lie deflated under the lander’s petals. Soil disturbed by
it. “Yogi” is on the other side of the lander. Sojourner’s wheels show a track leading away from a
deployed ramp. The rover is directing its X-ray spectrometer
at a basaltic rock that scientists named “Yogi.”
Sojourner Rover “Yogi” the rock
Deflated air bag