Mars Rover Slips While Leaving Crater   

Even with all of its mechanical might, NASA's Opportunity rover does have its limitations. On Monday, NASA reported that Opportunity failed to climb up and out of the sandy crater it has explored since landing on Mars nearly two months ago. The dry, sandy soil and moderate slope caused the rover to spin its wheels, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said. The six-wheeled, go-cart sized robot slipped back as it tried to drive out of the crater on Sunday. Controllers planned to try a second way out of the crater — this time driving the rover diagonally across the slope.

"We know the vehicle can do this sort of thing," project manager Richard Cook said in a press conference. "There are many, many variations on this that can be done before we get worried. Opportunity has encountered previous problems with slippage inside the crater but never as severe as those that stymied it Sunday."

Halfway around the red planet, Opportunity's twin rover, Spirit, has been exploring the rim of a much larger crater, although it has yet to venture inside the depression. NASA launched the twin, $820 million mission to search Mars for evidence the planet once was a wetter place. Opportunity already has uncovered such evidence.

FMI: www.marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov