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Mars Rovers Alive Until 2005?

Posted by michael on from the or-until-the-martians-find-them dept.

maggeth writes "The BBC is reporting that negotiations are under way to extending funding for the Mars rovers beyond this September. Originally designed to work for 90 Martian days, they now predict they may last well beyond the 250 Martian days they had announced previously." hoferbr writes "A new analysis by Phil Berardelli at the United Press International quotes Steve Squyres, chief scientist for the Mars rover mission, in which he says that the Mars rovers '... could go into 2005'. Spirit and Opportunity will complete six months on the Martian surface on July."

10 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Damn, I wanted a bout... by Iscariot_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    I read that last line as " Spirit and Opportunity will compete six months on the Martian surface on July."

    I hope they do. Might as well go out with a bang after such success. Might be a way to get funding too.

    --

    Go here for teh [sic] funny.
  2. Apparently by Timesprout · · Score: 4, Funny

    Starbucks have just opened on Mars and the helpful staff have offered to clean the rover's solar panels once a day and stick in a couple of extra AA batteries.

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  3. All that extra time... by Zorilla · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, NASA plans on visiting all 3,158 Starbucks locations on Mars.

    --

    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  4. Re:wow by Throtex · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kodos to the designers !

    Kang to everyone else !

  5. Scotty Factor by nucal · · Score: 5, Funny
    Scott: "Do you mind a little advice? Starfleet captains are like children. They want everything right now, and they want it their way. But the secret is to give only what they need, not what they want!"

    LaForge: "Yeah, well I told the captain I'd have this analysis done in an hour."

    Scott: "How long would it really take?"

    LaForge: "An hour!"

    Scott: "Oh, you didn't tell him how long it would *really* take, did you?"

    LaForge: "Well of course I did."

    Scott: "Oh, laddie, you've got a lot to learn if you want people to think of you as a miracle worker!"

    -- "Relics", Stardate 46125.3

  6. I bet they'll find some reason to stop support... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the second they release Mars Rover: Longhorn.

  7. Re:NASCAR by Zorilla · · Score: 4, Funny

    I destroy stickers trying to peel them off. Imaging a robotic arm doing the same. It would be more retarded-looking than those Skill Crane games at the bowling alley trying to pick stuff up.

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    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  8. why does mars rover do it? by blue_adept · · Score: 5, Funny

    His website offers insight into why he does this ('to be different') and has pictures of the 4000+ craters he's visited.

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    "Is this just useless, or is it expensive as well?"
  9. Re:Devil's advocate by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Not to be too trollish, but if you are building a bridge to hold 10 tons and it ends up holding 100 tons, you are wasting resources."

    As if your mama reads those signs before she crosses.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  10. Re:Why do people think NASA programs cost billions by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Funny

    So the OP was correct, for X == 0.82.