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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."

2 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Great News by flewp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is great news. Not only for the science, but it also adds to NASA's credibility. Sure, they thought it would only last 250 Martian days, but when it comes to funding in the future, this may help, however little.

    --
    WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  2. Re:wow by ahknight · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That puts the 300 meg one at ~12 years old, and the 1.6 gig one at ~9 years old. Both drives are never turned off.

    High chance, then, that when you finally do turn it off, they won't come back up. I get a lot of clients that say their ancient servers worked great for a decade and then after a power outage *boom* nothing. Make a backup while it's still running .. onto current media. ;)