p2pnet.net OT News:- NASA’s twin Mars exploration rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, are now two, and still going strong as they investigate the mysteries of the Red Planet.

"The rovers are both in amazingly good shape for their age," says the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Jim Erickson, rover project manager.

"The twins sailed through the worst of the martian winter with flying colors, and spring is coming. Both rovers are in strong positions to continue exploring, but we can’t give you any guarantees."

Opportunity is driving toward the heat shield that protected it during descent through the martian atmosphere, says NASA, going on that the Rover team hopes to determine how deeply the atmospheric friction charred the protective layer.

"With luck, our observations may help to improve our ability to deliver future vehicles to the surface of other planets," Erickson said.

And while Opportunity is thus engaged, Spirit is exploring the Columbia Hills within the Gusev Crater.

NASA’s next Mars mission, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, is due to launch in August.

"Mars lures us to explore its mysteries," says NASA chief scientist Dr Jim Garvin said. "It is the most Earth-like of our sister planets, and many believe it may hold clues to whether life ever existed or even originated beyond Earth.

"The rovers have shown us Mars had persistently wet, possibly life-sustaining environments. Beyond their own profound discoveries, the rovers have advanced our step-by-step program for examining Mars. We will continue to explore Mars robotically, and eventually with human explorers."

You’ll find images and moe info on the rovers here.

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See:-
good shape – NASA Rovers’ Adventures on Mars Continue, NASA, January 3, 2005

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