The rover did not move for six hours. When the next engineering image arrived, a rectangular paper object appeared tucked beneath an exterior camera housing. NASA has not called it a parking ticket. The internet has already filed an appeal.
THE CITATION
The object is pale, narrow and exactly where an annoyed municipal officer might place paperwork if Mars rovers had windshields. Image specialists say it may be debris or a calibration artifact. Parking attorneys say they would need to see the reverse side.
Potential defenses: no posted curb; vehicle conducting scientific work; municipality not identified; defendant currently 140 million miles from courthouse.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE ON EARTH OR MARS
NASA CHALLENGES VENUE
A fictional jurisdictional dispute quickly became more complicated than the mission itself. Does Mars recognize Nevada plates? Can a rover be booted? Is a sol considered a business day? Our calls to the Martian Department of Transportation were not returned because it does not exist.
THE ROVER MOVED
Six hours later the rover continued its route. The paper-shaped object was gone. Whether it blew away, was never there or was paid online remains unknown. Mission controllers have made no public statement about points on the rover’s license.