Mars Rovers Mark One Year of Operations, Far Outlasting Original Mission

NASA's twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have each surpassed one full year of surface operations, well beyond the three-month mission originally planned for them.

Spirit touched down on 3 January 2004, with Opportunity arriving roughly three weeks later. Both craft remain in strong operational condition, continuing to explore the Martian surface and gather new scientific data.

Project manager Jim Erickson of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the rovers came through the Martian winter in good condition, describing their continued operation as a positive sign for further exploration.

Each rover has contributed to evidence that water once existed on Mars. Opportunity identified traces of ancient salt water, while Spirit located goethite, a mineral associated with past water presence.

NASA's next mission to Mars, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, is scheduled for launch in August.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.