Mars Rovers Get Extra 18 Months

iamlucky13 writes "NASA has stated in the latest mission press release that funding for an additional 18 months of exploration has been approved. The rovers have breezed through 14 months of operation so far, and the money will cover expenses through September of 2006. The rovers are still operating well, and recently both experienced dramatic power boosts from their solar cells. They are no longer like new, however. Opportunity has recently experienced data loss from one of its spectrometers, while Spirit has a smudged camera lens, a heavily used rock abrasion tool, and has previously struggled with intermittent steering issues."

why?

[R.D.Olivaw]

"Mars Rovers Get Extra 18 Months"

why is that? Did it try to escape or something?

Rear hazard-avoidance camera?

[sdo1]

From the quote under the picture in the article...

"This image is from the rover's rear hazard-avoidance camera"

What, are they worried about something sneaking up on it from behind?

-S

Re:Well..

[beset]

True. We all know what happened to the farscape project!

Re:Most successful ever?

[Anonymous Coward]

Your British did what it was intended to do: Crash and leave a crator, thus exposing what is under the surface, thus giving the US uber bots something to look at.

Re:Rear hazard-avoidance camera?

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, sure. There are two rovers on Mars right now, right?

Anything to keep those insurance premiums down.

Manned mission to Mars

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder if the first man to walk on Mars will be given the job of fixing the Rover?

Extra 18 months might:

[raynet11]

be enough time to find weapons of mass destruction
but additional funding may be needed.
The director head was commented:
"It's a tiny shovel, it just takes time but were
confident that Iraq put them there.. our sources say.. "

Re:Rear hazard-avoidance camera?

[AndroidCat]

No, they're worried about accidently backing up over some Martian lifeform. Can you imagine what a long costly court case would do to the budget? There's no telling if the Martians have any ears to hear the beep-beep-beep as it backs up.

The truth ...

[tomhudson]

Spirit has a smudged camera lens, a heavily used rock abrasion tool, and has previously struggled with intermittent steering issues."

Blurring vision, dulled senses, unable to go in a straight line ...

... the robots are frigging DRUNK!

.

.

Re:Manned mission to Mars

[McBainLives]

I've often wondered if he'll find one of 'em sitting up on 6 little cinder blocks and with the radio missing...

FOR SALE

[jmrobinson]

'03 Spirit Rover

odometer: 0000003 miles
abrasion tool slightly dulled
slight steering problem
needs a good buff
runs great!
Asking $15,000,000 OBO

Re:Driving backwards a lot of time

[Tibe]

Uh, 0.0223693629080171796mph speed.. hey NASA do it too. :|

Re:Most successful ever?

[ptomblin]

You sent a Bagel, and it became a pancake.

And when they're done

[ch-chuck]

NASA could auction them off on ebay - The lucky buyer (or heirs) couldn't actually take possession of them for some time but it makes as much sense as paying to have a star named after someone.

Delivery option:

[LiquidCoooled]

Delivery option: not available, buyer collection is required.

logo

[confused one]

they should have gotten commercial funding from Energizer and put the bunny logo on the rover, strategically placed where they can get a periodic shot of it with the pancam.