What critical mechanical failure struck Spirit in May 2009, threatening its power supply?
Answer
Its right front wheel became completely stuck in soft sand.
A critical incident occurred in May 2009, during Martian year 1942, when Spirit encountered soft sand terrain that caused its right front wheel to become completely immobilized. This immobilization posed an existential threat because the rover's mobility was intrinsically linked to its power generation; being unable to drive or maneuver correctly meant it could not optimally orient its solar panels toward the sun. This severely hampered the ability to charge its batteries, especially as the Martian winter approached, making survival highly uncertain.
#Videos
Spirit Rover Completes Mission on Mars - YouTube
Related Questions
How many Sols did the Spirit rover operate compared to its 90-sol design goal?Which basin was selected as the landing site for Spirit based on orbital data suggesting a past lake?What key mineral discovery by Spirit suggested a long-lived, possibly warm, aqueous environment on Mars?What critical mechanical failure struck Spirit in May 2009, threatening its power supply?What instruments were crucial for Spirit in identifying mineralogy that requires water to form?By what approximate distance, in kilometers, did Spirit exceed its short, planned operational traverse?What driving strategy allowed Spirit to continue operating after its right front wheel became disabled?Which specific location did Spirit reach, characterized as a scientifically interesting spot, before its final communication loss in 2010?In what month and year did NASA officially declare the Spirit mission complete after multiple failed contact attempts?What name was assigned by scientists to the ridge where Spirit’s silent rover body eventually rested?