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
|
|
Vast signs contract with SpaceX for ISS private astronaut missions
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT) Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, December 24
NASA Selects Firefly Aerospace to Deliver UCF’s Lunar-VISE Payload to the Moon
Univ. of Central Florida — 10:15 am ET (1515 GMT) Space Force's 5th birthday brings new training, challenges and growing threats from China
Colorado Springs Gazette — 10:14 am ET (1514 GMT) Refueling and Maneuvering Satellites in Orbit Is Key to National Security
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 10:13 am ET (1513 GMT) Space Operations Command preps for new shared domain awareness tool
Defense News — 10:12 am ET (1512 GMT) SpaceX, Amazon in talks with British Airways owner on Wi-Fi deal
Bloomberg News — 10:10 am ET (1510 GMT) |
