A-Z Blogging Challenge: R Stands For: Rovers

Specifically, Spirit and Opportunity.

Image via Wikipedia

Spirit made a successful landing on January 4th, 2004, and Opportunity landed January 25th. So far, Opportunity has been functioning 25 times longer than originally planned. It is currently heading for the Endeavor crater.

(Opportunity. SOURCE)

Spirit on the other hand stopped communicating with Earth March 22nd 2010, although NASA is now trying other ways of communication in hopes the rover will wake from hibernation as its batteries charge from the Martian summer.

Both rovers discovered evidence that could indicate water used to be on Mars. Spirit found crystallized minerals in magma, possibly dissolved by water, along with a high concentration of salt in the soil. Opportunity found bedrock formations that form because of a current, along with hydroxide ions in jarosite, which could mean the mineral formed in the presence of water.

(Spirit's first image. SOURCE)

Hopefully, Spirit will communicate again with Earth and begin exploring Mars again. But even if it doesn't--it went far beyond its expected time--the rover made some important discoveries, as did its twin.

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Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_rover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_rover

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20110318.html

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Do you think there's a chance Spirit will come out of hibernation?

-----The Golden Eagle