Spirit Marks One Martian Year

hrayr writes to tell us NASA is reporting that Spirit, their proclaimed "wonder child", sent to explore Mars has just wrapped up its first Martian year, equivalent to two Earth years. Originally designed to only last 90 days the small six wheeled machine has lasted far beyond the original scope to bring us immense amounts of data and some 70,000 images. There is still great hope that this data, and more to come will bring us one step closer to Mars habitation.

Comments

Why Mars?

[n0dalus]

More importantly, hopefully this data will bring us one step closer to habitating Earth effectively.

Re:Why Mars?

[Markus Registrada]

Yes. Jesus, what a dump. You wouldn't bid a nickel an acre for a place like that if it was right off a major freeway, and actually had air besides.

Asteroids, particularly the ones (almost) sharing Earth's orbit, might be useful someday, and be worth visiting on that account. That is, if we don't blow ourselves up, or poison ourselves to death, or wipe out our biosphere first. There's nothing like starving in the dark with your hair and teeth falling out to make you lose interest in the finer points of space exploration.

Question:

[imstanny]

Why would it only last 90 days? I dont have expertise in battery power, but I figured that since it has solar panels it can recharge its batteries. Having said that, I would imagine the battery would last longer than 90 days. So what's the dilly?