Message posted by Peter Merlin on October 12, 2011 at 11:04:11 PST:
During initial trials, the FIDO rover was tested at Silver Lake near Baker, California; in the Lunar Crater volcanic field, Nevada; the Soda Mountain area in California, and east of Flagstaff, Arizona. An additional mobility experiment was conducted with FIDO at Edwards Air Force Base to test driving capabilities and limitations over rolling terrain with variably soft soils. It wouldn't make much sense to test it at a highly classified facility like Groom Lake. The security constraints alone would seem prohibitive. Additionally, there is more realistically Mars-like terrain on the Randsburg Wash test site at China Lake, a "classified range" that has been used by NASA on occasion for flying remotely piloted vehicles. Closer proximity to JPL and an existing relationship with NASA would make this a better choice, but I have no reason to believe that the FIDO rover was ever tested there. Re-posted for Peter Merlin
In Reply to: Re: Person on Reddit claims to have been inside Area 51 posted by Gimbal on October 12, 2011 at 4:19:52 PST:
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