Rovers last words

NASA's previous generation of rovers outlived their intended lifespan. Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva Matt Keuneke is the Mars exploration rover mission operations manager at NASA. This is his story from the field as told to Charlie Wood.By the time the Opportunity and Spirit rovers touched down on Mars in January 2004, my colleagues and I were already pondering new projects. We’d designed the pair of rovers knowing that the Red Planet is a gritty place. We weren’t sure exactly when Mars’ infamous dust clouds would coat their solar panels and block out the sun, rendering them powerless.We planned for roughly 90 days of exploration, but no one told the rovers. Spirit traipsed the sandy plains for about six years, and Opportunity kept going for around 14. Our lucky streak started right away: Mars gave us what we called “cleaning events”—gentle winds that unexpectedly dusted off the rovers and boosted power production. Because the planet receives adequate sunlight, the solar panels we’d expected to fail actually gave a nearly infinite energy source.Fortunately, expecting a short mission hadn’t stopped designers from picking the most reliable components. Even after 14 years, most of Opportunity’s motors could have lasted for at least another decade. And when parts did act up, we thought creatively. After a heater’s switch got stuck in the on position, for instance, our team reworked Opportunity’s standard bedtime routine to force nonessential systems to shut down, which switched off the faulty part and saved needed power.The team felt devoted to the rovers—like they

Horse racing as it “attracted ruffians to the town”. Despite this, the sport continued to thrive and in 1614, the authorities gave in and established an official racecourse.Doncaster Racecourse is famous for hosting two of the oldest horse races on the calendar, which are The Doncaster Gold Cup and St Ledger. Both races had their first run in 1776.The Doncaster Gold Cup is the world’s oldest continued and regulated horse race in the world. St Ledger is the oldest classic race. Each September, the four day St Leger festival takes place. It’s one of the most important events in the calendar for the Doncaster Racecourse.In 1992, the Doncaster Racecourse hosted the first Sunday meeting, which proved to be extremely popular with horse racing enthusiasts. During this time, people legally could not bet on horses.Sport in DoncasterDoncaster RoversDoncaster has a long history in association with football and has made significant contributions to the women’s game. Railway fitter Albert Jenkins formed Doncaster Rovers in 1879 who, six years later, would turn professional.In 1946, Doncaster Rovers were involved in the longest ever football match against Stockport County in the FA Cup. After extra time, the two sides locked at 2-2 when the referee decided the teams should play until one of them scored – this was in an era before the penalty shoot-out. The game continued for another 203 minutes before the referee stopped the game and arranged a replay at a later date, which the Doncaster Rovers won 4-0.The football club entered their most difficult time in the 1990s. Their chairman withdrew his financial support and sent the club into administration. Since then, the club recovered after John Ryan gained it in 1998 and has moved into the Keepmoat Stadium.Doncaster Rovers BellesFormerly the Belle Vue Belles, Doncaster Rovers Belles are the town’s ladies’ team. Arguably, the Donny Belles rugby team has been more successful than their male counterparts. In 1969, a group of female lottery ticket vendors formed the team at Belle Vue, the former home of Doncaster Rovers, and are one of the country’s most successful ladies teams who dominated the

Getty Images / Aston Martin F1 In case you don’t have teenage daughters or, y’know, ears and a pulse, a new Taylor Swift album dropped last night. Formula 1 fans are claiming one lyric to be a nod to the singer’s previous dating rumors with one Fernando Alonso. About a year ago, news broke that Swift had split with English actor Joe Alwyn after six years together, but before she was linked to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, F1 veteran Alonso was rumored to be Swift’s new lover. The rumors turned out to be unfounded—or, if they were true, the relationship certainly didn’t last. In any case, the alleged Alonso nod comes in the second verse of “imgonnagetyouback,” the 18th track of The Tortured Poets Department:I’m an Aston Martin that you steered straight into the ditchThen ran and hid In case it wasn’t already clear, TTPD is a breakup album and here, Swift characterizes herself as an Aston Martin—a very beautiful, high-value piece of machinery—that ex Alwyn metaphorically mistreats, crashes, and is ultimately unworthy of. But perhaps the more interesting real-life connection is that two-time F1 World Champion and one-time rumored Taylor Swift boyfriend Fernando Alonso currently drives for, you guessed it, Aston Martin Aramco F1.Now, Swift’s whole schtick may indeed be writing songs about her real life, but as The Drive‘s resident Swiftie, I’m not convinced this is the deliberate wink-to-the-camera reference some online think it is. Believe it or not, Swift has a long history of oddly specific automotive callouts in her lyrics. And, yeah, they have changed as her style, circumstances, aura, and, dare I say it, eras change. In the early, twangy country days, it was “just a boy in a Chevy truck that had a tendency of gettin’ stuck,” as heard in “Tim McGraw.” But moving into more poppy fare, we got gems like “loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street” on “Red” while “King of My Heart” on the very villain-coded reputation album included the line: “all the boys and their expensive cars, with their Range Rovers and their Jaguars.”If I had to guess, the Aston Martin line came about simply because the words fit, and, sure, maybe it floated into there partly because those words did indeed come up in a meeting between Swift and her PR team. But calculated, premeditated reference? Doubtful. Wanna chat Taylor Swift lyrics with the author? You can reach him here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com

Established in 1875 this venerable club was a founder member of both the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992. Nicknamed simply Rovers or sometimes The Blue and Whites, this is a club with a long and glorious history. Honours accumulated include three league titles, six FA Cup titles, a League Cup and a Community Shield. Currently playing in the Championship the club is managed by football journeyman Tony Mowbray. Many others have held his position, with some of the most notable and successful including James Fielding, Thomas Mitchell and Robert Middleton who collectively managed to win eight titles for the club in their early years. More recently Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Mark Hughes and Sam Alardyce all enjoyed stints at the helm of the club. From a player perspective there are many greats who have worn the blue and white Rovers shirt. Some of the great names include Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer, Brad Friedel, David Dunn, Simon Garner, Tugay and Morten Gamst Pedersen. The current squad includes stars like Daniel Ayala, Bradley Johnson, Bradley Dack and skipper Darragh Lenihan. Who owns Blackburn Rovers? The club is majority owned by Indian corporation Venky's Ltd, who, aside from owning Rovers, are best known as a poultry and animal produce company. Ground: Ewood Park Capacity: 31,367