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Opportunity Begins 10th Year on Mars

An anonymous reader points out that 9 years ago the Opportunity rover started to explore the red planet. "The older, smaller cousin of NASA's huge Mars rover Curiosity is quietly celebrating a big milestone Thursday — nine years on the surface of the Red Planet. NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars the night of Jan. 24, 2004 PST (just after midnight EST on Jan. 25), three weeks after its twin, Spirit, touched down. Spirit stopped operating in 2010, but Opportunity is still going strong, helping scientists better understand the Red Planet's wetter, warmer past."

3 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Last message from the Opportunity rover by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Ah, guys, it's been ten years. Seriously when am I coming home? I figured a year, eighteen months tops. You did make plans to bring me back, right? I mean it's not like you planned to abandon me here. Okay I'll check out this next geological feature but after that we're having a heart to heart about cashing in this return ticket. The winters here are murder and I keep dreaming of that tropical retirement you promised. I found some possible signs of life but I'll discuss it once I'm back in Florida. Just get me back to palm trees and bikinis and I'll tell you whatever you want to know!"

  2. Re:Not Bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I hope by the time humans finally walk on Mars, it's still there so it can be preserved"

    I don't think its going anywhere...

  3. And yet... by matunos · · Score: 5, Funny

    Still no sign of oil. What a f*ckin waste!