Book 15, Question 116
Why Does a Rover Only Drive a Little Bit at a Time?
A rover drives only a little bit at a time because messages from Earth take minutes to arrive! So engineers can't steer it live, like a toy car. Instead, they send a plan and the rover carries it out slowly and carefully.
More fun facts
- Rover drivers on Earth wear special 3D glasses to plan routes.
- They send commands like drive forward 5 meters, then turn right 90 degrees.
- The rover turns its wheels just enough times to cover that distance.
- Perseverance can also choose its own path, deciding which rocks to avoid.
- Even driving carefully, Perseverance can cover over 300 yards in a day.
Questions kids ask
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