NASA extends Mars rover missions again
Posted: Wed, Apr 6, 2005, 7:15 AM ET (1115 GMT)
NASA announced Tuesday that it has extended the mission of the highly successful Mars Exploration Rovers for up to 18 more months. The twin rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, have been on the Martian surface since January 2004 and continue to function well despite initial plans to operate for only 90 days. The rovers' mission has been extended twice before; the current extension will last up to 18 months, depending on the health of the spacecraft. Opportunity, in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars, is approaching a region called "Etched Terrain" where wind erosion may have exposed bedrock. Spirit, on the other side of Mars in Gusev Crater, is climbing Husband Hill within the crater. NASA did not disclose the cost of the mission extension; the last extension, in September, cost NASA $2.8 million a month.
NASA announced Tuesday that it has extended the mission of the highly successful Mars Exploration Rovers for up to 18 more months. The twin rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, have been on the Martian surface since January 2004 and continue to function well despite initial plans to operate for only 90 days. The rovers' mission has been extended twice before; the current extension will last up to 18 months, depending on the health of the spacecraft. Opportunity, in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars, is approaching a region called "Etched Terrain" where wind erosion may have exposed bedrock. Spirit, on the other side of Mars in Gusev Crater, is climbing Husband Hill within the crater. NASA did not disclose the cost of the mission extension; the last extension, in September, cost NASA $2.8 million a month.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, May 25
A milestone for HKSAR on Shenzhou XXIII
China Daily — 3:29 am ET (0729 GMT) Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying among Shenzhou-23 crew entering Tiangong space station
South China Morning Post — 3:27 am ET (0727 GMT) Orbital data centres, extraterrestrial energy: Detailing Musk’s ambitions with $1.75 bn SpaceX IPO
Indian Express — 3:26 am ET (0726 GMT) SpaceX’s IPO Is a Bet Gravity Doesn’t Apply to Elon Musk
Wall Street Journal — 3:22 am ET (0722 GMT) SpaceX's galaxy math
Axios — 3:22 am ET (0722 GMT) |
