The mars rovers are doing some incredibly cool things. Curiosity has a massive suite of scientific instruments and used as intended is still making discoveries today. But beyond the instruments' intended uses there could be really cool science that we just haven't thought of yet.

What if the laser can be used to harden rock in a way that will give it a new and scientifically interesting profile when crushed? Perhaps the friction of one wheel can be used to slowly heat an area and the resulting interaction with the atmosphere would be informative. How about using a communications radio emitter to echo-scan something?

As a scientific novice I don't think any of these ideas are helpful. But I'm sure there's a community of real scientists that would slather at the opportunity (heh) to find new uses for stuff we already have on Mars.

Detailed specs of the Mars rover would be publicized.

This set of $15,000 prizes would be awarded to the most scientifically useful novel ways to use the still-operational rovers.
-- Voice, May 11 2014

http://en.wikipedia...i/Coronation_Street [not_morrison_rm, May 11 2014]

Curiosity Measures a Mountain's Gravity https://www.nasa.go...a-mountains-gravity
[Voice, Feb 02 2019]

Thought this was something to do with Coronation Street.
-- not_morrison_rm, May 11 2014


Thought this was something to do with that dog-neutering post.
-- FlyingToaster, May 11 2014


(+)... but we mustn't let the Irish play with them.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 11 2014


Can the spectral signature of magic smoke be seen from earth?
-- wjt, Feb 02 2019


I expected this to be about balloons which stop Number Six from leaving The Village, and I am disappointed.
-- nineteenthly, Feb 02 2019


// Detailed specs of the Mars rover would be publicized. //

Such info is available for NASA spacecraft—it's just not necessarily compiled in a convenient location. Engineering papers are available online on just about any imaginable component or aspect of them. Just look in the references section of a Wikipedia article to get started. Info on Russian spacecraft is harder to come by, though. Not sure about European and Japanese ones.
-- notexactly, Feb 03 2019


Voice as regards you being a "real scientist" I think your time spent on the HB has earned you a field promotion. You could describe yourself as scientistish, or scientisty.
-- bungston, Feb 03 2019



random, halfbakery