The Little Rovers That Could

Talk about being on a roll! Spirit and Opportunity are alive at five. NASA sent the two roving robots to explore the surface of Mars five years ago this month. Scientists thought the six-wheeled vehicles would only survive for 90 days on the frigid and dusty planet. Instead, they’ve been busy little space buggies. Combined, they’ve traveled more than 13 miles and beamed back more than 250,000 images of the planet’s rocky terrain. Data from the rovers’ instruments has proved that there was once water on Mars.

But all that hard work has taken its toll. Spirit has to drive backward because of a broken wheel; Opportunity has trouble moving its robotic arm because of a broken electrical wire. Thick dust often coats the solar panels that power the vehicles. Still, they keep on rovin’, and when they’ll stop nobody knows. “We realize that a major [part] on either vehicle could fail at any time and end a mission with no advance notice,” said NASA scientist John Callas. “On the other hand, we could accomplish … more missions on each rover in the year ahead.” Maybe Spirit and Opportunity will even get a visit by Mars Science Laboratory, a bigger and better roving vehicle set for launch in 2011.

Photo: AP Images/NASA

Comments

[Tim Wang]

Spirit and Opportunity are the coolest vehicles I have ever seen. It is NASA's most advanced technology. NASA might need to develop some better system of protection, so that the wheels or other equipment won't be damaged. I hope Spirit and Opportunity continue to find the information that scientists need, and I wish we can be on Mars before 2050.