Built To Last?
Remember the two Mars rovers we sent to the Red Planet nearly two years ago? They were only supposed to last about three months. Well, guess what? They're still going:
NASA's robot rovers are still trundling across the surface of Mars, about 21 months after scientists expected them to sputter to a halt.
The twin vehicles were only supposed to last three months. Instead, one mission researcher said they're "living on borrowed time."
In the two years since Spirit and Opportunity first landed, the golf cart-sized rovers have set all sorts of records. Most importantly, they succeeded in finding evidence that water once moved across the face of the Red Planet.
Steven Squyres of Cornell University said the research team continues to push the rovers to greater exploration because they're "living day to day."
As Squyres puts it, they're "so past warranty."
It's so unusual to see a government agency perform beyond expectations.
Now I've seen everything.
NASA's robot rovers are still trundling across the surface of Mars, about 21 months after scientists expected them to sputter to a halt.
The twin vehicles were only supposed to last three months. Instead, one mission researcher said they're "living on borrowed time."
In the two years since Spirit and Opportunity first landed, the golf cart-sized rovers have set all sorts of records. Most importantly, they succeeded in finding evidence that water once moved across the face of the Red Planet.
Steven Squyres of Cornell University said the research team continues to push the rovers to greater exploration because they're "living day to day."
As Squyres puts it, they're "so past warranty."
It's so unusual to see a government agency perform beyond expectations.
Now I've seen everything.