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NASA Mars Rovers Hit 5-Year Anniversary

Posted by Soulskill on from the exceeding-expectation dept.

An anonymous reader writes "NASA's Mars rovers have been on the red planet for five years now. The rovers were originally planned to stay operational on the planet for only 90 days, but it has turned into a much longer mission than anticipated. NASA has put together a video to celebrate the anniversary. The rovers have made important discoveries about wet and violent environments on ancient Mars. They also have returned a quarter-million images, driven more than 21 kilometers (13 miles), climbed a mountain, descended into craters, struggled with sand traps and aging hardware, survived dust storms, and relayed more than 36 gigabytes of data via NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. To date, the rovers remain operational for new campaigns the team has planned for them."

13 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Five years for 36 gigabytes? by Shakrai · · Score: 4, Funny

    and relayed more than 36 gigabytes of data via

    Seems a little slow. Maybe Obama can extend some broadband lines to Mars and bring them into the 21st century? ;)

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  2. typical government project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Supposed to be finished in 90 days, ends up taking 5 years.

    1. Re:typical government project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Did you hear that bang ?
      That was the joke breaking the sound barrier when it passed over your head.

    2. Re:typical government project by dotgain · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just stick to the standard 'Whoosh!', please.

  3. Yes but by Subm · · Score: 2, Funny

    The rovers have made important discoveries about wet and violent environments on ancient Mars. They also have returned a quarter-million images, driven more than 21 kilometers (13 miles), climbed a mountain, descended into craters, struggled with sand traps and aging hardware, survived dust storms, and relayed more than 36 gigabytes of data via NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. To date, the rovers remain operational for new campaigns the team has planned for them

    Yes, but do they run linux?

  4. Wet and Violent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sounds like NASA sent them to New Orleans, not Mars.

    1. Re:Wet and Violent? by dotancohen · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, I have at least one ex-girlfriend who meets that description as well.

      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  5. Re:Best damn dime NASA ever spent. by antifoidulus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not to mention they leak all over the place and constantly want to make more of themselves

    --
    Monstar L
  6. High Philbogg or something by Xaositecte · · Score: 2, Funny

    There used to be a guy who wrote stories about how the Martians were interacting with the rover in comments every time a Rover story came up on Slashdot.

    Whatever happened to that guy? Where's he at?

    1. Re:High Philbogg or something by davidphogan74 · · Score: 2, Funny

      He was probably abducted by aliens.

  7. Re:Best damn dime NASA ever spent. by tibman · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's puppeteer talk right there

    --
    http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
  8. Re:Example Of American Can Do Spirit by Raenex · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't believe you made that Voltron reference.

  9. As an American taxpayer, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I've gotten my money's worth.

    (Note to the typical Slashdot reader, a "taxpayer" is someone who has a "job." Go upstairs and ask your parents what those mean.)