Would like to see NASA pursue the theory
2006-08-15 07:59:31 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This is very doubtful. Time is still a factor in space. Even if NASA finds the lunar rover again, time has probably taken its toll on it. Every part of it would probably be frozen or damaged. That's assuming it is still in one piece after all this time.
2006-08-15 08:07:55 · answer #1 · answered by Oklahoman 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The extreme temperatures on the moon might be a problem. There's a big difference between day and night there--no atmosphere--and if the metals in the rover couldn't stand up to the constant expansion and contraction, it could have been damaged beyond repair by now.
Should NASA pursue that theory, though? I don't see why not; it all depends on how long it takes a simple temperature difference (and possibly micrometeorites) to damage the materials the rover is made from.
2006-08-15 08:18:18 · answer #2 · answered by lisa450 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Betcha if you ask General Motors, they'd say that of course it would work and try to come up with a commercial spouting off about the reliability of their vehicles. Die Hard would probably wanna jump in too for any long life battery spin.
But, yes, the rover should still work. It isn't like there's any moisture to cause any of the metal to corrode. Some damage may have occurred due to the heating/freezing it would have experienced in the last few decades, but it should be minimal.
2006-08-15 18:00:05 · answer #3 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The above is a possible scenario... however, since the rover was designed to survive in the lunar landscape it was very simplistic... and since there is no atmosphere in the Moon there is nothing to corrode the vehicle...
I believe it may be theoretically possible to swap out the battery, however, meteorite/micro-meteorite impacts may have caused irreversible damage...
2006-08-15 08:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by AresIV 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Theoretically, yes. There would be a chance that long term exposure to UV and micro meteorites had done some damage, but the odds are good that it would run just like new.
BTW, there's no weather on the moon to "freeze", damage or disassemble a rover......
2006-08-15 08:08:45 · answer #5 · answered by Steve 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't see a reason why not,.. but it will need a new fender, if I recall one of the original fenders was damaged in transit (typical of vehicles made by Ameircans in America),.. No wonder Ford is having so many problems. I hope you don't have a Ford.
It may also need a couple new seats, since its been absorbing nothing but radiation all these years.
If they upgraded the drive motor, they could probably add a couple more seats.
as for micrometeorite damage, its doubtful,... since the last person to drive it had to have remembered to park it in the garage (the lander it arrived in).
W H A T ! ! ! , . . . it's been sitting outside all this time?
2006-08-15 08:31:08 · answer #6 · answered by somber_pieces 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
NASA luner rovers aren't real
2006-08-15 08:40:20 · answer #7 · answered by whosyourdaddy 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No. It's been towed by space aliens for parking in a restricted zone and sold for scrap.
2006-08-15 09:10:04 · answer #8 · answered by SPLATT 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋