An article posted by AFP reported Tuesday that NASA has announced that it will extend the Mars space probes Spirit and Opportunity for the fifth time. The two probes landed three weeks apart on Mars in January 2004. The mission was expected to only last 90 days, but NASA believes it could last until 2009. Opportunity has been exploring Victoria Crater, in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars since September. Spirit has been on the opposite side of the planet and is exploring the Home Plate volcanic plateau. This is where scientists believe the volcanic rock might contain traces of water. However, the rovers aren't getting any younger. "After more than three-and-a-half years, Spirit and Opportunity are showing some signs of aging, but they are in good health and capable of conducting great science," said John Callas, the rover project manager at JPL. The rovers carry sophisticated instruments that help NASA to examine the geology of Mars for information about prior environmental conditions. Opportunity has returned evidence that its area on Mars stayed wet for a long period, with conditions that may have been ideal for sustaining microbial life. Spirit has shown evidence that water in some form has changed the composition of the soil and rocks.
To date, Spirit has driven 4.51 miles and has sent back over 102,000 images. Opportunity has driven 7.19 miles and has returned over 94,000 images.
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