'I'd call for a tow': Mars Perseverance rover sounds a bit scratchy in first recorded drive

[Jonah Ide]

Last edited Thu Mar 18, 2021, 12:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Guardian

Thu 18 Mar 2021 01.54 EDT

Nasa’s newest Mars rover has sent back the first-ever sounds of driving on the red planet – a grinding, clanking, banging affair that by Earth standards would be pretty worrisome.

The noises made by Perseverance’s six metal wheels and suspension on the first test drive two weeks ago are part of a 16-minute raw audio feed released on Wednesday by Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

“If I heard these sounds driving my car, I’d pull over and call for a tow,” Dave Gruel, an engineer on the rover team, said in a written Nasa statement. “But if you take a minute to consider what you’re hearing and where it was recorded, it makes perfect sense.”

The driving audio contains an unexpectedly high-pitched scratching noise, according to Nasa. Engineers are trying to figure it out.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/18/id-call-for-a-tow-mars-perseverance-rover-sounds-a-bit-scratchy-in-first-recorded-drive

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Yep, total nerd here!

[NurseJackie]

1. A little black electrical tape to cover the warning light should fix that easily enough.

[Lochloosa]

2. Heat shield came lose and is rubbing. I know that sound.

[jaxexpat]

5. I had a Renault that sounded like that. Heat shield between the cat converter and floor was loose.

This will definitely put a damper on efforts to sneak up on Martian critters. Stealth technology it ain't.

[Dave Starsky]

3. There are squirrels in the engine compartment.

I have to chase them out every winter.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. Didn't they pack the maintenance droid

WD40?

[lagomorph777]

7. Hee!

[Sapient Donkey]

6. I find that with my vehicles nearly all weird sounds are connected to the stereo

I can fix most the issues by turning the stereo up. Once turned up the bad sound I was hearing goes away.

[Jimbo S]

8. The only two things one needs

Duct Tape and WD-40.

[newdayneeded]

9. Don't worry!

It's still under warranty!