[meteorite-list] NASA Extends Operations for Its Long-Lived Mars Rovers

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:59:26 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200710152159.OAA13001_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Oct. 15, 2007

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown at nasa.gov

Guy Webster
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-6278
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 07-208

NASA EXTENDS OPERATIONS FOR ITS LONG-LIVED MARS ROVERS

WASHINGTON - NASA is extending, for a fifth time, the activities of
the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. The decision
keeps the trailblazing mobile robotic pioneers active on opposite
sides of Mars, possibly through 2009. This extended mission and the
associated science are dependent upon the continued productivity and
operability of the rovers.

"We are extremely happy to be able to further the exploration of Mars.
The rovers are amazing machines, and they continue to produce amazing
scientific results operating far beyond their design life," said Alan
Stern, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission
Directorate, Washington.

The twin rovers landed on Mars in January 2004, 45 months ago, on
missions originally planned to last 90 days. In September,
Opportunity began descending into Victoria Crater in Mars' Meridiani
Planum region. At approximately a half mile wide and 230 feet deep,
it is the largest crater the rover has visited. Spirit climbed onto a
volcanic plateau in a range of hills that were on the distant horizon
from the landing site.

"After more than three-and-a-half years, Spirit and Opportunity are
showing some signs of aging, but they are in good health and capable
of conducting great science," said John Callas, rover project manager
at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The rovers each carry a suite of sophisticated instruments to examine
the geology of Mars for information about past environmental
conditions. Opportunity has returned dramatic evidence that its area
of Mars stayed wet for an extended period of time long ago, with
conditions that could have been suitable for sustaining microbial
life. Spirit has found evidence in the region it is exploring that
water in some form has altered the mineral composition of some soils
and rocks.

To date, Spirit has driven 4.51 miles and has returned more than
102,000 images. Opportunity has driven 7.19 miles and has returned
more than 94,000 images.

Among the rovers' many other accomplishments:

- Opportunity has analyzed a series of exposed rock layers recording
how environmental conditions changed during the times when the layers
were deposited and later modified. Wind-blown dunes came and went.
The water table fluctuated.

- Spirit has recorded dust devils forming and moving. The images were
made into movie clips, providing new insight into the interaction of
Mars' atmosphere and surface.

- Both rovers have found metallic meteorites on Mars. Opportunity
discovered one rock with a composition similar to a meteorite that
reached Earth from Mars.

JPL manages the rovers for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

For images and information about the rovers, visit:

www.nasa.gov/rovers

        
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Received on Mon 15 Oct 2007 05:59:26 PM PDT