Posted on 09/21/2004 11:12:03 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - NASA thinks its Mars rovers just might keep going and going and going.
The space agency has funded another extension of their mission, for an additional six months, if they last.
The latest funding came as NASA regained reliable contact with the rovers Spirit and Opportunity after a 12-day period in which Mars passed nearly behind the sun, Jet Propulsion Laboratory said
The rovers, which have found evidence of past water activity on the Red Planet, landed on opposite sides of Mars in January and completed their primary, three-month missions on the surface in April.
The rovers have since completed about five months of their first extension.
"Spirit and Opportunity appear ready to continue their remarkable adventures," said Andrew Dantzler, solar system division director at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., in a statement.
The rovers did no driving during the period in which the sun was between Earth and Mars. Commanding of activities resumed for Opportunity on Monday and for Spirit on Tuesday.
Project manager Jim Erickson at JPL said it was a relief to get through the past two weeks because not only were communications disrupted but it was the worst part of winter in Mars' southern hemisphere in terms of the sunlight available to the solar-powered rovers. The solar energy situation will improve in January.
"Although Spirit and Opportunity are well past warranty, they are showing few signs of wearing out," Erickson said in a statement. "We really don't know how long they will keep working, whether days or months. We will do our best to continue getting the maximum possible benefit from these great national resources."
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On the Net:
JPL: www.jpl.nasa.gov
Rover Missions Renewed as Mars Emerges From Behind Sun
As NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers resumed reliable contact with Earth, after a period when Mars passed nearly behind the Sun, the space agency extended funding for an additional six months of rover operations, as long as they keep working. (Sept. 21)
Have the rovers found the flag the astronauts left up there???
An absolutely fantastic set of experiments that went well. When you consider how "low-tech" the building of these rovers was, it is amazing. The landing "balls" were a real marvel of design and function.
As a young engineer, I worked on Apollo. That program NEVER should have been halted. It was certainly alot cheaper than Viet Nam...and IMHO, far more important, considering our result in Nam.
Good for the NASA boys!!! Great job.
Drilling Holes Line Opportunity's Path
This image composite shows 11 holes dug by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's rock abrasion tool into the slopes of "Endurance Crater." The main panoramic camera image highlights more recently made holes (yellow) and the rover's path into the crater (pink). The navigation camera image to the right shows the first seven holes drilled into Endurance. Each hole is 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter.
I was a little squirt during the days of Apollo.
What a piece of machinery.
I agree, we should have kept going with Apollo.
Government Bump!
A sensational and inspirational use of our common resources for the "general welfare" of humankind.
Wow! How big is that crater?
not sure of exact dimension,maybe 150-200 meters or so is a guess, it is pretty good sized..
It will be Opportunity's final resting place.
I doubt that, more likely an exhibit in a museum
President Bush's plan to send men back to Mars is a waste of taxpayer's money.
Barbara
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