You want her number?

Agreed 3000 km is only a short distance, especially when you consider the Mars / Earth distance is currently over 360.12 million km

I recall asking my teacher the same question regarding trigonometry for when I’d need it in real life :) And here I am today LOL

If I have issues with my Pythagorean theorem formulas in Libreoffice Calc (a² + b² = c²), I’ll certainly ask you for her number :)

‘Calc’ does a pretty good job of calculating their positions based on their positions reported by JPL after each drive. But I really should update my formulas to include the nominal curvature of the surface of the planet, as that would certainly increase their distance apart :)

Oh no I hope they don’t get lonely. Well, at least they have each other.

In fact, I envy them. I would rather be with them right now.

Sadly they’re over 3,000 km (~1,900 miles) apart, but each could look up into the night sky and see the orbiters circling the planet waiting to relay new instructions to the rovers after conjunction ends in a couple of weeks :)

Why are the moon as mirror and better transmission protection algorithms no sufficient ways?

I don’t believe the moon is far away from Earth to act as a reliable relay for Mars - Earth communications.

A number of relay satellites could be parked at different Lagrange points (see attached image), but the cost of such a system would probably not be approved for robotic mission, as all space fairing nations have limited budgets, and robotic missions can just be paused for a few weeks during conjunction.

If extended crewed missions to Mars become a reality, I would think it would be essential to have such a communication system in place if the missions were planned to occur during a Mars-Earth solar conjunction.

You can read one assessment of different relay network topologies to improve Earth–Mars communications on this link - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576523000516

(The diagram in this reply is copied from the above link)

A little rough (Sol 4634, August 19, 2025)

They may be a little rougher these days, but the rover is still roving :)

Update: he’s headed to Blue Origin

Good to hear, thanks I’d missed that news :)

I hope he’s found a good alternative. I’ve always really admired his vibe

Map - 5 meter scale bar - shows the rover drove up and out of the hollow, onto the ridge during sol 4752

North is up on all mission maps (unless otherwise stated)

Map Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UofA

Map 200 meter scale

Map (20 meter scale)

Details and stats following the drive on sol 4752 (December 18, 2025)

Added a 4th image

Maps 20 , 200 & 2000 meter scale maps

Here are the details of the 21 minute drive

The drive keeps the rover in the same box-works hollow, but they have stopped in front of a ridge for possible contact science, see attached post-drive front - HazCam image.

A post drive NavCam provides better context to the interesting rock

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Interesting texture on this rock

Drive Data

Map: 200 meter scale bar included

Map 20 meter scale

Fingers crossed, it’s a great mission