Spirit, the robot geologist is stuck in Mars

LOS ANGELES: Spirit has always been the unluckier of NASA's twin Mars rovers.

Just weeks after landing in a Martian crater in 2004, it went haywire and transmitted gibberish (meaningless speech) to Earth. Engineers eventually nursed it back to health.

As if the near-death experience wasn't enough, Spirit was upstaged early on by its twin Opportunity, which landed in a geologic gold mine and was the first to determine that the frigid, dusty planet possessed a wetter past. Bad luck has fallen again on Spirit.

As the workhorse rover marked its sixth year on the red planet it found itself stuck in a sand trap, perhaps forever. The six-wheel robot geologist has been in jams before, but this is the worst predicament yet.

With Martian winter arriving in several months, Spirit may not have enough power to keep going unless scientists can point the solar-powered rover toward the sun.Spirit "has always been our drama queen," chief scientist Steve Squyres of Cornell University said.

The latest misfortune occurred in April when Spirit, driving backward because of a lame wheel, broke through the crusty ground like a person falling through a frozen pond and became bogged in fluffy sand. Little progress has been made to free Spirit since.NASA was dealt a major setback recently when another wheel appeared to have stopped moving, leaving Spirit with only four working wheels to plot its great escape.

"With only four driving wheels, it doesn't look good," project manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said.

It's been a particularly rough year for Spirit. Besides getting stuck in a sand rut, it suffered sporadic(irregular) bouts of amnesia and other woes including sudden computer reboots.

Though the prognosis of getting Spirit out looks bleak, scientists are not ready to give up yet. But if they exhaust (run out of) all escape options, they will switch to Plan B and try to tilt the rover to the north where it can get more sunshine to keep running so that it can continue to do science in one spot.

"If we can't get the rover unstuck, it will become a Mars lander," Callas said.

Unlike a rover, which performs science experiments as it roams, a lander studies its surroundings while stationary.

Fortunately for researchers, what may turn out to be Spirit's final resting spot looks like a scientific bonanza. The sand is rich in sulfate, a mineral that forms in  the presence of water, researchers say.Originally designed as a three-month mission, Spirit and Opportunity have operated past their warranty.

Since Spirit landed on Jan. 3, 2004, followed by Opportunity three weeks later, the rovers have driven a total of more than 16 miles, cresting hills and peering into craters.

Spirit and Opportunity are also closing in on the record for longest-running Mars surface mission currently held by the Viking 1 lander, which operated on the planet for six years and 116 days.From the start, Spirit has had hard luck. Squyres, the mission's chief scientist, attributes part of that to geography.

Opportunity didn't have to work hard to impress scientists because it parachuted to an ancient lakebed awash with minerals that pointed to geologic evidence of past water. Spirit, on the other hand, touched down in the rugged lava plains of a crater on the opposite side of the planet and had to trek toward the hills to make discoveries. "In order to get the science, we simply had to push Spirit harder," Squyres said.

There's one feat that Spirit achieved on its own. In 2005, it became the first robotic craft to scale an extraterrestrial hill as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

With Spirit immobile, it's still snapping pictures of its surroundings and sending data back to Earth. Spirit's next challenge will be surviving the upcoming Martian winter. Meanwhile, Opportunity has been busy grinding into a dark-toned rock that scientists think may be a stony meteorite.

Courtesy - AP

Seaweeds invade Great Barrier Reef

Australian scientists revealed on January 4, that they were shocked to discover that more than 40 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef's inshore areas are dominated by seaweed, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

The weed invasion was found during a study in which they swam over 500 different sections of the reef to see what was thriving.

Study co-author Dave Bellwood of James Cook University said the shift from a coral-dominated reef to a weed-dominated one was concerning and difficult to reverse.

"We got quite a shock when we saw how much of the inner reefs were dominated by weed," Professor Bellwood said.

The weed invasion could be caused by nutrients coming into the water from the land, or by a decline in the weed-eating fish species that usually "mow" the seaweed.

Bellwood called on the Australian government to do more to protect coral fish species such as the parrot, surgeon, rabbit and bat fish.However, he said due to a lack of historical data, scientists were not sure if the seaweed was spreading.

Courtesy - AP

Teacher: Could you please pay a little attention?

Student: I'm paying as little attention as I can.

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Teacher: James, where is your homework?

James: I ate it.

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Teacher: Why?

James: You said it was a piece of cake!

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Teacher: Why is your homework in your father's handwriting?

Pupil: I used his pen!

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Teacher: You've got your shoes on the wrong feet.

Pupil: But these are the only feet I've got!

What's the difference between a teacher and a steam train?

The first goes "Spit out that chewing gum immediately!" and the second goes "chew chew"!

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Today my teacher yelled at me for something I did't do.

What was that?

My homework!

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What is white when its dirty and black when its clean?

A blackboard!

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What's small and cuddly and bright purple?

A koala holding his breath!

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What happens when a cat eats a lemon?

It becomes a sour puss!

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Why are elephants wrinkled?

Have you ever tried to iron one?

Radio programmes to teach English

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Series of radio programmes to teach General English lessons to over 350,000 children in G.C.E (Advanced Level) classes in urban, rural and remote sector schools in the country will be conducted by the English and Foreign Languages Division of the Ministry of Education, commencing from January 28.

According to latest statistics, released by the English and Foreign Languages Division last week, 80 per cent of GCE (AL) students in the country, especially in the rural and remote schools have shown negative results in the past GCE (Advanced Level) examinations.

"This situation prompted us to take a firm decision on the preparation of GCE (AL) General English question papers for the benefit of students sitting for the upcoming GCE (A/L) Examination in August," Ministry of Education, English and Foreign Languages Division, Director K.L. Premachandra told the Junior Observer.He said the main objective of conducting such programmes on radio channels other than television channels is to enable the students in rural and remote sectors to take the advantage of this programme to improve their English Language skills.

"This is considered as a supplementary course for the students and the main aim is to help the students to understand the themes of the Government published GCE Advanced Level General English Book and answer the question paper successfully at the examination,".

Director Premachandra also said while listening to the radio programme, students need worksheets to answer the questions that they are asked.

"Therefore, we have decided to publish worksheets in the Junior Observer commencing next week," he said.

He also requested students and other interested parties to contact the English and Foreign Languages Division of the Ministry of Education for more details about this programme.

Pre-school education to be regulated

Pre-school teachers islandwide will be granted a special allowance in recognition of their service to society by assisting in early childhood development, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said addressing pre-school teachers at Temple Trees recently.

Already a massive programme to regulate pre-school education, which is the foundation of character formation and educational development is under way, the President added. Pointing that pre-school teachers have a responsibility to mould the children's character Rajapaksa stressed that they should prepare the children to be strong to take up any challenge, in the future.

He added there was no proper programme to recognize the service of pre-school teachers to the society, in the country at present.

Burj Khalifa:

The world's tallest skyscraper opened on Jan. 4

Dubai's newest skyscraper the Burj Khalifa,which holds the record as the world's tallest building was officially opened on January 4 this year amids much fanfare. Formally called the Burj Dubai, The over 2,717 feet high skyscraper was renamed as the Burj Khalifa, accoding to the news agency WAMÂ in honor of the United Arab Emirates' president Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is the ruler of Abu Dhabi and serves as the UAE federation's president.

Reaching half-mile into the sky, the world's tallest skyscraper, grabs that title from Taiwan's Taipei 101, the world's second tallest building.The Burj is more than 1,000 feet higher than the Taipei 101 building,so tall, in fact, that the air temperature at the top of the tower is up to 8 degrees Celsius lower than at the base.

It had taken 22 million manhours costing about 1.5 billion US dollars.The skyscraper has 57 elevators, 1,044 residential apartments, 49 floors of office space and an Armani hotel. Construction of this building began on September 21 2004.

“Learn About America” Essay Competition

Winners of September 2009:

12-14 years Category

Essays on Washington DC: United States’ Capital City

1st Place: Zara Sanderson, Elizabeth Moir Junior School, Colombo.

2nd Place: Menushi Hasara Rajapakse, Bishop’s College, Colombo.

3rd Place: Michelle Joanna David, Louvre International School, Nugegoda.

15-16 years Category Essays on History and Importance of US Labour Day

1st Place: Ahanya Loganathan, Hindu Ladies College, Colombo.

2nd Place: M. H. M. Reshika Sandini, Dhammapala Girl’s School, Hambantota.

3rd Place: Chathuranga Shayamal Udawatta, Bandaranaike College, Gampaha.

17-18 years Category

Essays on Hollywood - The cinema of the United States

1st Place: Devindi Illankoon, Musaeus College, Colombo.

2nd Place: CNA Kulathuge, Central College, Anuradhapura.

3rd Place: F. Zafra Fuaiz, Royal Institute, Maharagama.